Liquor law and policy

Find information about provincial legislation, regulations and policies.

Liquor licence terms, conditions and manuals

If you are a liquor licensee, you must follow the terms and conditions of your licence or permit.

Bulletins (formerly policy directives)

Effective January 5, 2023, policy directives are now called Bulletins. Find historical policy directives and read about new liquor or cannabis bulletins.

Liquor legislation and regulations

Read about your liquor licence responsibilities under liquor legislation and regulations.

Other agency liquor laws

Other agencies may have legislation or regulations that apply to you. Learn what each agency does and how their work affects your liquor licence.

Liquor Distribution Branch

The Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) is responsible for importing, distributing and registering all liquor products in B.C., as well as government liquor stores.

The Liquor Distribution Act gives the LDB the sole right to purchase beverage alcohol both within B.C. and from outside the province, in accordance with the federal Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act.

The LDB supplies product to more than 10,000 B.C. bars, restaurants and private retailers.

Contact LDB for more information.

Ministry of Environment

The Ministry of Environment's recycling regulation requires licensees to accept up to 24 empty container returns per person per day for the product brands and sizes they sell.

• The 24-container return limit refers to the combined number of all containers returned by a person

For the health and safety of staff, licensees are not required to accept for refund any container that is rusty, dirty or contaminated. Private liquor stores must refund the full amount of the applicable container deposits. This refund must be given in cash and cannot be given as store credit.

Persons contravening the Ministry of Environment regulation commit an offence.

Provincial Agricultural Land Commission

Wineries, cideries, breweries, distilleries and meaderies in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) are governed by

• The Agricultural Land Commission Act (ALCA)
• The Agricultural Land Reserve Use, Subdivision and Procedure Regulation
• ALC policies with rules about activities permitted on ALR land
  • Without approval of the Agricultural Land Commission

  Related resources

  • Agricultural Land Reserve Use Regulation - Alcohol Production
  • Gathering for an Event in the ALR (PDF, 56KB)
  • Agri-tourism Activities in the ALR (PDF, 63KB)