P.E.I. Lifts Certain Importation Limits

PEI locals will soon be allowed to bring their commercially manufactured wine into a licensed dining room, thanks to some changing importation limits to the  Liquor Control Act that came into effect this past Saturday. 

P.E.I. is the latest province to remove the restrictions following an agreement between premiers in 2018 to ease interprovincial alcohol trade barriers.  “Since then, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, B.C. and now P.E.I have removed the limit,” said Finance Minister Darlene Compton, who’s responsible for the Liquor Control Commission.

Alberta and Manitoba were the only provinces that had no limits before the agreement.  As part of the changes, general retail stores will also be allowed to sell low-percentage alcohol, up to a maximum of 0.5. percent.

“One of the most frequent questions that I get from Islanders is, ‘Why can’t I get [low-percentage alcohol] in the grocery store?'” Compton said.

Islanders will also be allowed to bring commercially manufactured wine into a licensed dining room if restaurants decide to allow it. Customers can also have the wine corked if they don’t finish it. The establishments will be able to charge a fee for that service.