Canadian Liquor Laws?

Bosh · March 6, 2003, 20:55

With the VAT/national sales tax and any excises that may exist, is liquor significantly more expensive in Canada (Quebec specifically) than the US? And is it illegal to transport alcohol from the US to Canada?

And do any Blue Laws (laws that prevent alcohol from being sold late at night and sundays except in resaurants/bars) exist?

Asher · March 6, 2003, 21:00

VAT? Canada?

I don't have any idea why you'd think liquor would be more expensive in Canada than in the US, at all.

Some provinces with higher provincial sales taxes (Alberta has 0% provincial, everyone has 7% federal) would obviously have to pay more upfront...

Asher · March 6, 2003, 21:05

As for carrying alcohol across the border, I don't know.

Usually it's from Canada->US, not US->Canada.

And I'm not familiar with any Blue Laws like you mentioned, although I think they're provincial.

KrazyHorse · March 6, 2003, 21:12

Quote:

With the VAT/national sales tax and any excises that may exist, is liquor significantly more expensive in Canada (Quebec specifically) than the US?

http://www.saq.com/pls/devsaq/genera...P_RESE_DIST!03

In Quebec alcohol prices include all taxes (GST, QST, liquor taxes). Those listed are in Canadian dollars. Basically divide by 1.5 to get prices in US dollars.

Quote:

And is it illegal to transport alcohol from the US to Canada?

Unless you pay customs, yes. There is a personal exemption limit of 1 bottle per person, IIRC, as long as you've been more than 48 hours in the US.

Quote:

And do any Blue Laws (laws that prevent alcohol from being sold late at night and sundays except in resaurants/bars) exist?

I don't know if anybody other than the provincial government has the right to sell fortified spirits in bulk. I know that it is illegal to sell alcohol of any kind after 3 a.m. in bars, and after 11 p.m. outside of bars.

Uncle Sparky · March 6, 2003, 21:13

Liquor laws are a provincial jurisdiction. Our GST (goods & service tax) is the same as your VAT (Value added tax), is fixed at 7% and applies to almost all goods & services in Canada.

From what I've experienced, Ontario & Newfoundland seems to have the most puritanical liquor laws with the most liberal laws in Quebec & Alberta.

March 6, 2003, 21:45

In Quebec, except for beer and basic stuff, liquor selling is a monopoly of SAQ (Societe des Alcools du Quebec) a provincial organisation.
The legal age is 18 to buy or to be in a place where they sell alcool.
I dont know much about cost though I would assume it's rather equivalent, though I think in Ontario it's slightly cheaper dont know about US
Past 11 pm, only bars can sell alcool, and even they have to close at 2 or 3 (I think thats a municipal law though)

notyoueither · March 6, 2003, 22:49

Quote:

Originally posted by Asher
I don't have any idea why you'd think liquor would be more expensive in Canada than in the US, at all.

There are specific taxes on alcohol, both federal and provincial, which make it more expensive in Canada than in the states. Or, so I've heard.

Asher · March 6, 2003, 23:01

Are those taxes hidden from the consumer?
I haven't noticed anything other than GST being added...

notyoueither · March 6, 2003, 23:04

Yes, the various governments in Canada are very fond of hidden 'sin' taxes on everything from alcohol and tobacco, to gasoline. Over half the cost in each case.

Tingkai · March 6, 2003, 23:20

I know this will set off Asher on another of his Albertan gloats, but a few months ago I flew from HK to Canada and bought a bottle of Glenfiddich at the duty-free in HK for about Cdn$55. A liquour store on the landside of the Calgary airport was selling it for $50! So it is cheaper to buy booze in Calgary then it is to buy duty-free stuff in Hong Kong!

KrazyHorse · March 6, 2003, 23:33

Quote:

Originally posted by Asher
Are those taxes hidden from the consumer?
I haven't noticed anything other than GST being added...

In Quebec the GST is included in the price.

KrazyHorse · March 6, 2003, 23:33

Booze is actually pretty cheap in Canada. Probably works out similarly to US prices...

KrazyHorse · March 6, 2003, 23:34

You can get 750 ml of JD for 28.00$=19.00$ US

I don't think it's much cheaper in the US...

KrazyHorse · March 6, 2003, 23:36

Quote:

Yes, the various governments in Canada are very fond of hidden 'sin' taxes on everything from alcohol and tobacco, to gasoline. Over half the cost in each case.

Sorry to tell you this, but it's the same in the US.

In NYC it now costs 8.00$US for a pack of smokes...

Asher · March 6, 2003, 23:49

Quote:

Originally posted by Frogger
In Quebec the GST is included in the price.

Should be a national law to force GST to be added into prices that would be affected by GST.

KrazyHorse · March 6, 2003, 23:52

Only on booze, gas and cigarettes though (the stuff that receives other taxes than the usual QST and GST)

The Mad Monk · March 7, 2003, 01:43

Quote:

Originally posted by Frogger
You can get 750 ml of JD for 28.00$=19.00$ US

I don't think it's much cheaper in the US...

Black or green label?

KrazyHorse · March 7, 2003, 01:55

Black.

KrazyHorse · March 7, 2003, 01:56

Old no.7 sour mash whiskey, IIRC

The Mad Monk · March 7, 2003, 01:57

$19.00 is about right.

$15.00 in warehouse stores.

KrazyHorse · March 7, 2003, 01:57

I've never seen a green label on JD.

The Mad Monk · March 7, 2003, 01:58

The green label lacks the word, "old", and is about 20% cheaper. I've never had it.

KrazyHorse · March 7, 2003, 01:58

I wonder what's different about it...

The Mad Monk · March 7, 2003, 01:59

I've only seen it once -- in a liquor store in Kansas City, Missouri.

KrazyHorse · March 7, 2003, 02:00

Sounds about right.

Bosh · March 7, 2003, 02:18

Thanks all

Any ideas of what I should do when I'm in Montreal for bits of three days this spring break when I'm in a drunken stupor?

KrazyHorse · March 7, 2003, 02:19

When are you going to be in Montreal?

Bosh · March 7, 2003, 02:22

Will be there the Friday night, Saturday and Sunday morning of the weekend after the upcoming one.

KrazyHorse · March 7, 2003, 02:25

What type of thing do you like? Restaurants, bars, live music, sleazy clubs?

Good bars with live music: Biddle's for jazz (it's really hard to find...think it's on Union)

Hurley's for Irish music (The south end of Crescent, and the only worthwhile place on that street)

Le Swimming on Saint-Laurent for some random local (and sometime non-local) talent

Go to Schwarz's on Saint-Laurent or Ben's on de Maisonneuve near Peel in order to taste a Montreal smoked meat. Avoid all other locations.

EDIT: for smoked meat, I mean

KrazyHorse · March 7, 2003, 02:34

And go to Peel Pub on Peel and Ste-Catherine if you want to get hammered in the presence of 16&17 year-old high schoolers and 18-21 year-old university students. Or Angel's, if you want there to be more gratuitous nudity. Or The Dome if you want excessive gratuitous nudity, drunkenness, public sex, hair gel and a free frisking for weapons for all who enter.