AGLC to bring back liquor from United States ‘effective immediately’

A sign is placed in front of the American whiskey section at a B.C. liquor store after top selling American made products have been removed from shelves in Vancouver, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) will resume selling liquor products from the United States after a three month pause.

In March, the AGLC stopped the sale of all American alcohol products.

• Alberta halts U.S. liquor sales; domestic producers aim to fill gap

On Friday, the AGLC announced it will “resume accepting liquor products from the United States, effective immediately,” at the direction of the provincial government.

This will affect all liquor products registered with the AGLC and declared to Canada Border Services Agency.

Products that were shipped from the U.S. after March 4 will continue to be subject to a surtax of 25 per cent of the invoice price, the AGLC added.

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The initial decision was made to support Canadian producers in the wake of U.S. tariffs, Premier Danielle Smith said in March.

“If the Americans aren’t going to buy products from our Canadian companies, we have to,” the premier said.

“That means we should be buying more Canadian beer, more Canadian spirits and more Canadian wine. And so that’s the reality of what we’re facing.”

In a statement Friday night, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Dale Nally said the government lifting restrictions on the purchase of U.S. alcohol and video lottery terminals signals a “renewed commitment to open and fair trade with our largest partner.”

“The decision sets the stage for more constructive negotiations ahead of a Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement renewal, potentially leading to increased trade opportunities and economic growth for Alberta,” Nally added.

With files from CTV News Calgary’s Kevin Green