Incredible But True: We Found Cheaper Beer in New Brunswick… and Even in Ontario!

We all know that beer prices are lower in Quebec, which explains why hordes of people from Ontario and New Brunswick are visiting us on a daily basis to buy our beer.

So it’s natural to assume, at some point, that every fluid containing hops and alcohol that is sold here is generally cheaper.

But everything? Not really! There are a few exceptions.

True, when it comes to large formats (eg cases of 60 cans that are mostly sold at the minimum price), Quebec definitely has the lowest prices.

In addition, because its minimum price is the lowest and because the province allows an open market, there are more rebates here on regular beer formats than anywhere else.

But both New Brunswick and Ontario are more competitive than we may think when it comes to smaller formats.

Here are a few examples.

Taxes and deposit add to the confusion

While in Quebec, beer prices do not include deposit and taxes, in Ontario and New Brunswick, they do: all beer prices displayed include taxes and deposit.

It is therefore necessary to extract both if we want to compare apples with apples and that often generate surprising results.

Thus, a 24-pack of Budweiser cans is yours this week for $35.99 in beautiful New Brunswick.

Once the 15% NB provincial tax is removed and the same goes for the deposit (and taking into account the fact that it is only half refunded), its net price is detailed at $30.41 vs $30,99 for the same product sold this week at IGA and Metro supermarkets here in Quebec.

A nice saving of $0.58 on a 24-pack of quality beer, courtesy of NB Alcohol!

Of course, you will easily find in Quebec, and especially at Maxi supermarkets, 24-packs of various brands offered at less than $30 but the point is that price difference is not as great as we commonly think it would be with a province where beer is sold by a Crown corporation monopoly.

These advertisements from two Quebec convenience stores were published in an Ontario weekly. They show the attractive power of lower beer prices in the neighboring province. While cases of 60 cans are most often offered at the minimum price, 24-pack of beer cans or bottles are very often offered in special at less than $30, like $26.80 or $27.99. Discount beers like Old Milwaukee or Pabst Blue Ribbon are often offered at even lower prices.
Good deals… sometimes even in Ontario!

Going back to our 24-pack of Budweiser cans, it costs $30.41 net in New Brunswick versus $30.99 for the same product in Quebec, at the regular price.

In Ontario, the Beer Store asks $43.95 with taxes and deposit, or $36.77 net.

So yes, indeed, it is significantly more expensive in Ontario.

It costs $5.78 more per unit than the regular price in Quebec, or 18.7% more expensive, which represents a significant drain on your wallet to get exactly the same product.

Now, it’s a different story for a similar product sold this time in a smaller format.

A call made to the Beer Store branch in Hawkesbury, Ontario, allowed us to uncover some of the more competitive products sold in Ontario.

For example, the giant Bud Light 740 ml size can is sold $3.85 per unit this week in Ontario, or $3.32 net (before tax and deposit), compared to $4.49 at IGA and $3.99 at Metro. Therefore, this product is 35% more expensive in Quebec in one case and 20% in the other!

Bud Light’s 740 ml giant-size can is currently sold cheaper, generally, in Ontario than in Quebec, which even incite Quebeckers – what an unthinkable vision – to cross to Ontario to buy their beer, which means good business for this Beer Store branch in Hawkesbury, Ontario.

Cheaper beer in Ontario… incredible, isn’t it? This is however the reality for some products.

And the fact that beer is cheaper in smaller quantities makes it possible to buy according to one’s needs, while in Quebec, you must buy in large quantities to fully take advantage of discounts.

A solution that remains though appealing given that beer can be stored and preserved for a long time.

The most unbeatable offer in Quebec is sometimes found at Costco … and elsewhere as well like at the Rapido convenience store in Gatineau (see announcement above). With the purchase of two cases of 60 Coors Light cans (here at Costco) sold at a minimum price of $ 63.43 each, taxes are paid. That’s a total of 42.6 liters of beer … without tax!… (note: Rapido beats Costco as it will even take care of the deposit over and above).
But that is nothing compared to the USA …

Still, even in Quebec, beer is expensive compared to the United States, even when taking into account the exchange rate.

There, the most expensive 24-pack that can be found is almost cheaper than the one sold here in Quebec.

And as the following map shows, there is not so much difference in beer pricing between states as here, in Canada!

It is high time that we emulate Mr. Trump’s country best practices, don’t you think?

The state of Michigan, USA, holds the record for the most affordable beer with an average price of only $14.62 for a 24-pack, while its regular price is $30.99 in Quebec. Source: here.

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