Small 0.7% Increase of Quebec’s Minimum Price of Beer as of April 1st 2021
Here’s a good news for beer lovers amid a never-ending pandemic: because the year 2020 has seen one of the lowest inflation rates in the past 10 years, the minimum price of beer will be increased very slightly this year.
As we know, the minimum price of beer in Quebec is indexed each year to the Canadian inflation of the previous year, as of April 1.
However, after several years of inflation at a substantiated level (2.3% in 2018, 1.9% in 2019), Canadian inflation fell by two-thirds in 2020 to 0.7%. following the confinement measures that have led to a general fall in consumption, helping to slow down the rise in prices in general.
Indeed, the Régie des alcools, courses et jeux (RACJ) — Quebec’s Liquor Board — will announce over the next few months that it will raise the minimum beer prices by 0.7% uniformly according to the various categories of alcohol, as follows:
- from $3.1040 to $3.1257 per liter for beer brands with less than 4.1% alcohol by volume (ex: Bud Light);
- from $3.2786 à $3.3016 per liter for beer brands of not less than 4.1% and not more than 4.9% (ex: Miller Highlife);
- from $3.4011 to $3.4249 per liter for beer brands over 4.9% and not more than 6.2% (ex: Budweiser);
- from $3.5151 to $3.5397 per liter for beer brands with more than 6.2% alcohol by volume.
Thus, the Quebec minimum price of beer for a 24-pack of Bud Light (4% alcohol) will rise from $25.40 to $25.58, an increase of 18 cents.
That of a 24-pack of Molson Dry (5.5%) will almost reach the $29 mark, rising from $27.83 to $28.03, an increase of 20 cents.
Now, will this affect current prices? Not necessarily, because the vast majority of retailers already sell their beer well above the minimum price, as we reported in a previous article (see here).
According to DepQuébec‘s most recent beer price survey, only Costco and a few beer discount c-stores will be forced to raise prices and that, for some products only. See by yourself (taxes are not included).
Min Price $/L | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bud Light | 4 % | 3,1257 | 12 can. 355 ml | ||||||
| 24 can. 355 ml | |||||||||
| 30 can. 355 ml | |||||||||
| 60 can. 355 ml. | |||||||||
| Coors Light | 4 % | 3,1257 | 12 can. 355 ml | ||||||
| 24 can. 355 ml | |||||||||
| 28 bot. 341 ml | |||||||||
| 60 can. 355 ml. | |||||||||
| Labatt Blue | 4,9 % | 3,3016 | 30 can. 355 ml | ||||||
| 24 bot. 341 ml | |||||||||
| Budweiser | 5 % | 3,4249 | 16 can. 355 ml. | ||||||
| 24 bot. 341 ml | |||||||||
| 48 can. 355 ml | |||||||||
| 60 can. 355 ml | |||||||||
| 12 can. 355 ml | |||||||||
| Molson Canadian | 5 % | 3,4249 | 24 bot. 341 ml |
Only cases of 60 cans of Coors Light, Bud Light and Budweiser sold at Costco will need their price to be raised to equal or exceed the new minimum price as well as similar products at the Dépanneur Rapido.
For the rest, it does not change anything, which does not mean that manufacturers and retailers will not take advantage of the increase to raise their own prices on the sly.
This is still indicative of one thing: the time when beer was systematically sold at the minimum price is over.
Still, Quebec remains a paradise for affordable beer in Canada, especially when compared to Ontario.
This explains in particular why DepQuébec’s articles about Quebec beer prices and translated into English are among the portal’s most popular outside La Belle Province!
Cheers.
