June 12, 2026
Alberta is the only province in Canada with fully privatized liquor sales. There is no government-run liquor store — every bottle in Alberta is sold by a private business. This creates a competitive market where prices can vary between stores, unlike provinces with fixed government pricing.
The price of alcohol in Alberta includes: the wholesale cost from the producer/distributor, the federal excise tax, the Alberta flat liquor markup (applied per litre, not as a percentage), GST, and the retailer's margin. Alberta's flat markup system (rather than a percentage) means that premium products don't get taxed as aggressively as in other provinces — a $60 bottle of Scotch in Alberta might cost $80+ in Ontario.
Since retailers set their own margins, prices differ. Large chains can buy in volume and offer lower prices on popular items. Small independents might charge slightly more but offer better selection or service. Delivery services like ours price-match retail because the economics work through delivery fees, not product markups.
Albertans generally pay less for alcohol than most other Canadians. The private market, flat markup, and no provincial sales tax (just GST) mean your dollar goes further here. It's one of the genuine perks of living in this province.