Think beer in the U.S. tends to be slightly cheaper.

See I do experimental splurges all the time - to the tune of $15 to $20. Not $86 haha.

On a somewhat related note, when I was in Europe I was talking to a guy in Netherlands and he was complaining about how expensive beer was at the liquor stores in Netherlands. So naturally, I ask him - how much? 10 euro for a case (and by case he means 24 beer) of Grolsch, which is one of the most expensive beers there. A case of Heineken? About 5 euro.

Meanwhile I tell him a case of shitty beer (ie: Canadian or something, 24 pack) costs close to $50. He literally didn't believe me.

Question for the homebrewers in the crowd: anybody got a solid recipe for an India / Cascadian Dark Ale? Winter's comin' and a dude's gotta be prepared. The over-richness of most winter ales simply isn't my thing, and most micro I/CDAs have me pretty happy...

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Free from work, let the beer flow biz-atches!!

Btw $50 for a two-four of Canadian? Good lord, how much of that is taxes?

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Four out of three people have difficulty with fractions

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I dunno - it usually runs about $35-40 for the case and then 5 cent deposit nd GST brings it up to $39-$45 (obviously price varies by liquor store).

Don't know what the actual tax on alcohol is here.

What do you pay for a 24 of shit beer?

Taxes depend on the province, but in BC it's effectively 107%. Alberta is the envy of the Canadian liquor scene...

A 24 pack of Canadian at BC Liquor stores is $42.69 + 13% HST + $0.05 per can = $49.44

At private liquor stores you'd expect to see $5 more on that.

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Are beer prices higher in B.C.? Or are you just referring to the drinking age here?

Fun drinking fact:
Make a fist with your right hand.
Count off the provinces from left to right using each knuckle and each dip between. The corresponding provinces are grouped by drinking age (BC to the Maritimes).

The knuckles (high points) have drinking ages of 19
BC, Sask, Ontario, the Maritimes (sorry easterners, you're lumped together)

The low points between the knuckles have drinking ages of 18
Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec

And now you know.

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Okay, so maybe nobody likes a cynic, but everybody f**king hates those perky optimists!

... and anyway, I make a damn good cynic.

Liquor is individually controlled in each province, through the liquor distribution entities. Incidentally, they also "guide" taxes and set the market on prices... they're also the largest retailer. How that gross conflict of interest is allowed to persist is beyond me: as a population, we should be outraged with that shit.

So the taxes applied before booze makes it to market vary on a province-by-province basis. In BC, it's about 107%. On wine, it's 135%, whereas in Alberta it's a flat rate of about $2.60 per bottle. Especially once you get into nice products, you can see how that would destroy the market.

BC: $15 true cost + 135% = $35.25
AB: $15 true cost + $2.60 = $17.60

(I'm more of a wine fan than I am beer, so my bias here is clear... but if you're interested in the issues check this out for an oversimplified overview. I love me some quality craft and home brew though, so I still belong in this thread!!)

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Yea, I guess most stores there are government-run right? So beer is the same price no matter where you go?

See, I can walk into one liquor store and pay $48 before tax on a 24-pack of Canadian. I can walk to another one and could get it for like $35.

I've actually always seriously considered moving to BC, but man, HST sucks.

That's shockingly fascinating. haha

That's definitely interesting... hey, Alberta has to be good for something right?

And welcome to the thread!