26-03: Licensee-to-licensee sales between licence classes

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Liquor Update:

These changes apply to the following licence classes.

 Authorized sellers:

  • Licensee retail stores
  • Wine stores
  • Special wine stores
  • Rural licensee retail stores

Authorized purchasers:

  • Liquor primary licensees
  • Liquor primary club licensees
  • Food primary licensees
  • Catering licensees
  • Manufacturer licensees with a lounge endorsement

What’s changing

To provide bars and restaurants with more flexibility in sourcing specialty products and to help support high-quality hospitality experiences during major events such as FIFA World Cup 2026™, the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) has authorized a three-year trial allowing eligible private liquor retailers to sell directly to hospitality licensees (licence classes noted above).

The trial period will run from May 29, 2026, until June 1, 2029, and will give hospitality businesses more choice in where they may purchase products and help them restock more quickly during periods of increased demand.

No application is required. This change will automatically take effect for the licence classes noted above.

Rural licensee retail store licensees will not need to apply to the LCRB to sell to specific licensees or report these sales to the Liquor Distribution Branch during the trial period.

There are no annual limits to selling or purchasing from different licence classes, and liquor sales and purchases between different licence classes will not count toward renewal fees.

What’s not changing

This change does not affect the current rules for sales and purchases between licensees of the same licence class. The annual limits for those sales and purchases are outlined in each licence class’s terms and conditions and will continue to apply.

Sales and pricing requirements

Authorized sellers may sell liquor to authorized purchasers and may also deliver orders to the purchaser.

Liquor must not be sold below the price the seller paid to purchase it. For clarity, this price must not be below the wholesale price set by the Liquor Distribution Branch. To avoid customer confusion, sellers may choose to display authorized purchaser pricing separately from regular shelf pricing, such as at the till or customer service desk.

Transaction records

Each transaction receipt must have the following information on it:

  • The seller’s and the purchaser’s liquor licence numbers
  • The name of the person making the purchase

Purchasing and delivery rules

Authorized purchasers or their employees may purchase liquor directly from authorized sellers. Liquor must not be purchased through a third-party delivery service.

Purchasers must not purchase liquor from a liquor retailer located outside of B.C.

Promotions and Incentives

Loyalty, incentives, or reward programs are not allowed for sales between licence classes.

Verifying liquor licences

All authorized purchasers and sellers are responsible for ensuring they buy from, or sell to, licensees with a valid liquor licence. Refer to the LCRB’s list of liquor licensed establishments [XLSX, 2.4 MB] to verify a licence.

Record keeping

Both the purchaser and seller must record each transaction in their liquor register, and records must be:

  • Recorded in a separate section of the liquor register or in a separate register altogether
  • Kept for at least six years
  • Available for inspection

Liquor register records for both the seller and the purchaser must, at a minimum, include:

  • The quantity, price, brand and type (SKU#) of each liquor product sold
  • The date of sale
  • The name of the person who made the purchase
  • The liquor licence numbers of both the seller and purchaser

Helpful information

Terms and Conditions

To read all the updated rules for both authorized sellers and purchasers, please refer to the following documents:

For more information, refer to the Licensee-to-licensee sales between classes webpage.

This authorization expires June 1, 2029, unless extended.

Disclaimer

Bulletins are for general information and may not apply to all situations. Bulletins do not constitute legal advice nor are they a comprehensive statement of the legal obligations that arise under the Liquor Control and Licensing Act, Cannabis Control and Licensing Act, regulations, or any other applicable laws.

When interpreting and applying the information contained in the Bulletins, you are encouraged to seek advice from your professional advisors as appropriate in the circumstances.