Alcohol in Vancouver
In Vancouver, and the rest of British Columbia, alcohol can be purchased at goverment
run liquor stores, wine stores, beer and wine stores, pubs, bars, lounges, clubs
and some restaurants. It is also available at many golf courses and at concerts,
sporting events and festivals.
Besides government run liquor stores, you can purchase wine at private wine shops
and at BC VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance) shops. Private wine shops often have wine
that is not available in government wine stores. BC VQA shops sell only BC VQA wines.
Alcohol is not sold in supermarkets, convenience stores or vending machines.
The legal drinking age in British Columbia is 19.
Most Canadian beers contain 5% alcohol. You can check the can or bottle for the
exact percentage of alcohol since alcohol content is listed on all Canadian beer.
In some US states, including California, beer with a 5% alcohol content cannot be
called beer. It has to be called stout, lager, ale or something else. So if you're
used to drinking American beer, you may be in for a surprise with the stronger Canadian
beer. Also note that some American beer brewed in Canada may have a higher alcohol
content than its American counterpart.
Government liquor stores sell no soft drinks. Beside hard liquor, they sell soft
cider and "non-alcoholic" beer and wine with an alcohol content of about
.5%.
Government liquor stores recycle everything they sell: beer and wine bottles, beer
cans and the boxes they came in. They refund the 10 or 20 cent deposit you paid
on cans and bottles. About 85% of all cans, bottles and packaging sold in BC Liquor
Stores is returned.
For more information, go to www.bcliquorstores.com
Broadway International Wine Merchant
2752 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC
604-734-8543 |
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Liberty Wine Merchant
Point Grey Place
Vancouver, BC
604-224-8050 |
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Marquis Wine Cellar
1034 Davie
Vancouver, BC
604-684-0445
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Dundarave Wine Cellar
2448 Marine Drive
West Vancouver, BC
604-921-1814
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Government Liquor Stores Open on Sunday
Most liquor stores are closed on Sunday. Recently, the policy was changed, and now
the following liquor stores in Vancouver and the North Shore are open seven days
a week:
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5555 Cambie St at 39th
11-6 Sunday |
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1191 Robson Street
12-7 Sunday |
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1120 Alberni at Thurlow
11-7
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570 Park Royal North
West Vancouver
12-6
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There are 31 liquor stores in Vancouver and the North Shore:
16 in Vancouver West
7 in Vancouver East
5 in North Vancouver
3 in West Vancouver
For more information, go to www.bcliquorstores.com