Canadian liquor jurisdictions agree to allow Canadians to 'import' alcohol into their province as long as it is for personal consumption, within set volume limits and is brought 'on their person'

We're told that 10 of 13 now allow you to bring wine into the province/territory.
We are working on getting clarification from each of the liquor boards
and have posted the received responses below.

For Mark Hicken's winelaw.ca analysis of these changes, click here

ALBERTA:

"Albertans are permitted to bring with them, across provincial borders, wines for their own personal consumption. There are no limits on quantity or frequency, as long as the liquor accompanies the individual and for the individual's own personal consumption"

NOTE: While the AGLC response states "There are no barriers to trade or listing Canadian wines in Alberta", you still can't order online and have your favorite wines delivered across provincial borders.

Read the full AGLC letter here

ONTARIO:

1) "LCBO Statement: In June 2011, LCBO adopted a policy clarifying that it is legal for individuals to bring wines, spirits and beer into Ontario on their person from other Canadian provinces or territories, as long as it is for personal consumption.

Established under the Liquor Control Act, the policy allows Ontarians of legal drinking age to bring up to three litres of spirits, nine litres of wine and 24.6 litres of beer from other provinces and territories. Most provinces and territories have comparable provisions, though some have importation limits that are lower than Ontario."

2) LCBO Clarification: "There is no annual limit associated with the policy clarification recently adopted by the LCBO's Board of Directors. The nine litre wine case amount refers to quantities for a single trip, with comparable volumes established for beer and spirits. This provision applies regardless of where the alcohol was manufactured or sold, provided the sale occurred within Canada. Similarly, all modes of transportation are ok provided that the person bringing the alcohol into Ontario accompanies its importation and it is for personal use. Shipping wine or other beverage alcohol via Canada Post or a courier is not bringing it on one's person."

NUNAVUT:

Residents and visitors to Nunavut are permitted to bring with them into the Territory Wine, Beer and Spirits for their personal consumption. With each visit or return to the Territory, individuals are limited to 1140ml of Spirits, 1140ml of Wine or 4260ml of Beer as long as the product accompanies the individual, and is for the individuals own use.

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND:

1) "Please be advised that Section 33.(2)(b.1) of PEI's Liquor Control Act stipulates the maximum quantities that an individual may take into our province for personal consumption which are "1.14 litres of spirits, 2 litres of wine or twenty-four 341 millilitre bottles of beer per person."

2) Answers to clarifying questions:
Include online orders?
"No on line orders, must be on person."

Are you considering increasing the limit?

"At this time the PEILCC is not considering increasing the limit. As you may or may not be aware, any change to the limit requires an Act amendment and must be presented to the Provincial Legislature when the House is sitting. Act amendments must be submitted following a prescribed procedure including time lines - "if" the PEILCC was to make a submission the earliest it might make the Legislature would be Spring 2012."

YUKON:

"Regarding importation without using the Yukon Liquor Corporation special order process: the Yukon Liquor Act specifies that the maximum that may be brought by a customer into the Yukon on their person, for their own use, is 1.5L of wine (or 8.5L of beer, or 1.14L of spirits), equal to the amount they are allowed "to import into Canada without any payment of tax or duty thereon". There is no frequency restriction; on-line ordering and direct-to-consumer sales are not allowed."

Read the full YLC letter here