A group of craft beer less than gung-ho on lowering cross-border barriers



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While the New Brunswick government is looking to increase the amount of alcohol that people can import from other provinces, an badociation of artisbad brewers is not entirely enthusiastic – as long as the rules of the game remain unequal for producers.

Last week in St. Andrews, Premier Brian Gallant said that the two prime ministers had agreed to significantly increase the limits for importing alcohol.

"This is a positive step for the consumer and the opening of the industry," said Wendy Papadopolous of the New Brunswick Association of Traditional Alcohol Producers. Brunswick, "but we must certainly pay attention to the future". Papadopolous, a co-owner of the Big Tide Brewing Company in Saint John, said the pursuit of low prices by consumers could hurt local craft brewers.

"There is another side of consumers who are always looking for the best deal," she says.

"If they are able to cross into Nova Scotia or Quebec or into any of the other provinces and buy alcohol or craft beer at a lower price and then To bring in large quantities, this will certainly have an impact on the producers here. "

Many of the province's food stores sell Papadopolous beer said that artisbad alcohol producers do not are not "big beers" and that they can not offer the same discounts as larger breweries because margins are lower 19659002] The details of the cross-border purchase agreement concluded at the Council of the Federation has not been published

Gallant said it could take weeks or months before new specific limits are adopted.

Papadopolous said he hoped the province would also reduce taxes on alcohol – the tax Alcohol prices in Quebec are the lowest in Canada – to help level the playing field, thereby reducing savings on interprovincial alcohol purchases.

Consumers of craft beer may prefer to buy in Nova Scotia and Quebec if they can get beer at a better price, says Papadopolous. (Richard Woodbury / CBC)

She would also like to see more … alcohol product made available in other provinces. The New Brunswick Liquor Corporation imports spirits from around the world, but many products made in New Brunswick can only be purchased in New Brunswick.

"In addition to being taxed fairly, we can be competitive, accessible and exportable. , that there is equal opportunity for New Brunswick producers in other provincial liquor stores and other alcohol companies, in the same way that [New Brunswick] treats these same producers in our province. "

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