Starting this week, Nova Scotians are paying higher prices for beer, wine and hard liquor.
On Monday, the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation raised the price of alcohol by 3.5%.
For some customers shopping at a liquor store in Glace Bay, N.S., on Tuesday, rising liquor prices come as little surprise.
“Like everything else,” said one customer.
While prices vary for each product, the cost of beer and spirits has seen the biggest increase.
“So if you’re buying a 12-pack of Coors Light, that’s going to mean an extra dollar. If you’re buying a 750ml bottle of Captain Morgan white rum, that’s a $1.30 impact,” Beverley Ware said, NSLC spokesperson.
Ware says the price hike is due to pressure felt by suppliers.
“Traditionally, prices have gone up or down a little bit every year. We do price reviews twice a year in the spring and fall and that was around 1% over the last five years. is therefore a noticeable change for customers,” she says.
The owner of the Big Spruce Brewery in Cape Breton believes the markup on local artisan products sold at NSLC stores is too high – and could affect sales.
“As I try to dance to absorb some of this reduced margin or pass it on to the consumer, the NSLC continues to get its massive margin,” said Jeremy White, owner of Big Spruce Brewery.
Meanwhile, Ware says the price of cannabis is falling as more companies move into the relatively new industry.
