British Columbians can now bring liquor back into B.C. from other Canadian provinces and territories without paying additional taxes announced Minister of Energy and Mines Rich Coleman June 7.

Currently, B.C. does not allow personal interprovincial alcohol importations without the requirement to pay B.C. taxes. This change means B.C. residents can now bring back up to one case of wine, four bottles of spirits, and a combined total of six dozen beer, cider and coolers from other provinces for personal consumption.

These amendments bring B.C in line with exemptions permitted by Ontario, Nova Scotia and the Yukon, which are among the highest in Canada.

“As another step towards modernizing our liquor laws, this change provides flexibility for British Columbians to legally bring back a case of wine or a bottle of their favourite spirits when they visit other Canadian provinces. It updates outdated and arcane rules that most British Columbians probably don’t know even exist,” said Coleman.

The personal importation amounts equal nine litres of wine, three litres of spirits, and a combined total of 25.6 litres of beer, cider and coolers per trip.

All provinces and territories that allow personal importation from other provinces restrict that importation to liquor that accompanies the person bringing it into the province.

No Canadian jurisdiction allows tax-free shipping of alcohol across their borders for personal consumption.

This change readies British Columbia for the potential passage of Bill C-311, currently before the Senate, which enhances the movement of wine across provincial boundaries.

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