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B.C. wine ban not good for business

Red Deer liquor store owner worried about long-term impact on sales
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Blair Gaume, Liquor Crossing owner and operator in Red Deer says banning B.C. wines will have an effect on his wine business in the long term. Photo by Mamta Lulla/Advocate staff

At least one Red Deer liquor store owner is worried about how the B.C. wine ban will affect his sales down the road.

Blair Gaume, Liquor Crossing owner and operator, said his store sells more Canadian wines compared to wines from other countries.

Although, the store carries a wide selection of wines like Alberta fruit wines and Ontario wines, “but majority of my wines come from B.C. for Canada,” he said.

“So it will effect business for sure.”

On Tuesday, Premier Rachel Notley announced a ban on B.C. wines in the wake of a growing feud between the two provinces over a Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.

Gaume said there won’t be any impact in the short term because his store is stocked but it is a different story in the long term.

Gaume hopes the two provinces can come to a solution that would work for both provinces.

“I think this will hurt the wine business in the long term in Alberta so hopefully they can get together and come to a conclusion,” he said.

As for premier’s suggestion to drink Alberta craft beer instead of B.C. wines, Gaume said, Alberta craft beer industry is booming, but he isn’t sure if wine lovers would opt for beer instead.

Red Deer resident, Thomas King, said he isn’t happy to see the two provinces fighting like they are two different countries.

“We’re all Canadians here. I feel like it’s really petty,” said King, 24.

He wants the two provinces to negotiate their concerns.

King said he doesn’t support the ban and will continue to drink B.C. wines.

“Just because our provincial government has taken a stand doesn’t mean I am going to jump on the bandwagon and go along with it,” he said.

“That’s not going to affect what I like and what I purchase.”

Take our poll: Do you support Alberta’s ban on B.C. wine imports?

Cass Froehler, Clearwater County resident, said he supports the ban but for the pipeline industry, not for Premier Rachel Notley.

“If they want to ban us, then we should be able to ban them back,” said Froehler.

Red Deer resident Makenzie Bell said she likes B.C. wines and hopes the two provinces can sort things out so wine drinkers like herself can continue to buy them.

“I like B.C. wines, so I would like them to not ban it,” she said.



mamta.lulla@reddeeradvocate.com

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