Craft Brewer in 100 Mile House benefits from new regulations

Courtesy of the BC Government Caucus:

As British Columbia continues to grow its reputation as the craft beer capital of Canada, craft brewers in every corner of the province will now benefit from an additional $10 million per year in economic support thanks to a significant reduction in the mark-up rate for craft beer products.

Effective July 3, 2016, the mark-up rate for small and regional breweries will be reduced by approximately 25 per cent, ensuring craft breweries will have increased financial capacity to grow and expand. These changes further improve mark-up rates for craft beer that were announced last year when government introduced the new wholesale pricing model, and will enable craft breweries to increase production and create jobs, while increasing the availability of high-quality, made-in-B.C. products.

As part of these new changes, craft breweries will also no longer be required to remit the supplier price of their products to the Liquor Distribution Branch, which will improve the companies’ cash flow.

This announcement has a positive impact on Broke ‘N Rode Brewing Co. in 100 Mile House.

“Craft brewers and consumers are the main beneficiaries of these changes,” Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett said. “This announcement supports the growth of the craft beer sector in the Cariboo and throughout B.C. by giving breweries more resources to create jobs, while giving consumers more choices of high-quality, locally made beverages.”

Quick facts:

·         The B.C. craft beer industry has seen exponential growth over the past few years, increasing from 54 in 2010 to 118 breweries in 2015, with up to 20 new breweries on the horizon.

·         Provincial efforts to cut red tape and increase supports for the craft beer industry have resulted in a 35 per cent increase in the amount of craft beer produced in B.C. over the past year.

·         Microbreweries now have opportunities to showcase their products at their local BC Liquor Stores and can access new revenue streams thanks to changes that allow on-site tasting lounges at breweries and beer sales at artisan and farmers’ markets.

·         The mark-up rate is the revenue generated by the Province from the sale of liquor products.

·         The mark-up rate for craft brewers with a production output of 15,000 hectolitres or less, per year, will be reduced from $0.55 to $0.40 per litre, which will benefit 99 brewers in the province.

·         The mark-up rate for craft brewers with a production output of between 15,001 to 350,000 hectolitres will be reduced from between $0.56 to $1.02 per litre to between $0.41 to $0.99 per litre, which will benefit 19 brewers in the province.

·         To date, 41 of the 73 recommendations from the Liquor Policy Review have been implemented. Work to continue implementing additional recommendations is ongoing.

·         Read the full list of Liquor Policy Review recommendations: www2.gov.bc.ca/local/haveyoursay/Docs/liquor_policy_review_report.pdf