British ColumbiaWith the liquor distribution system effectively shut down, stores and businesses are trying to stay afloat. Business owners say they feel ‘caught in the middle’ of strike actionLauren Vanderdeen · CBC News · Posted: Oct 12, 2025 7:14 PM EDT | Last Updated: 6 hours agoShoppers wait in line with liquor products at Legacy Liquor Store in Vancouver’s Olympic Village neighbourhood on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. (Kier Junos/CBC)Some private liquor businesses in B.C. are facing tough times as job action has effectively shut down the provincial liquor distribution system.Thousands of public service workers, including those at the Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) are in their seventh week of strike action as their union and their employer — the province — have come to an impasse over negotiating new terms, specifically higher wages, for their contracts. Sukh Randhawa, owner-operator of Liquor 62 in Surrey, B.C., said the strike has had a significant impact on his private retail liquor store.“Our supply is running critically low, and we’ve had to turn away customers,” Randhawa said.WATCH | Government-run liquor stores, Liquor Distribution Branch on strike:All B.C. government liquor, cannabis stores now behind BCGEU picket linesB.C.’s largest union stepped up its job action on Wednesday, placing all remaining government-run liquor and cannabis stores behind picket lines. As CBC’s Michelle Ghoussoub reports, it brings the total number of BCGEU workers taking part in the job action to 25,000.The losses are cutting into his revenue, Randhawa said and added he’s now considering temporary layoffs or reducing operating hours.Randhawa said the government mandates that his shop purchase inventory from the LDB, the provincial agency responsible for the wholesale distribution and retail sale of alcoholic beverages.He said the majority of the shop’s alcohol sales come in through the LDB and he’s not able to go through a third-party distributor.And Liquor 62 — which usually gets one or two shipments a week from the LDB — hasn’t received a delivery from the LDB warehouse in weeks, according to Randhawa.Sukh Randhawa, owner-operator of Liquor 62 in Surrey, B.C., says the majority of the shop’s alcohol sales come in through B.C.’s Liquor Distribution Branch. (CBC News)While the job action has created challenges for his business, Randhawa said he supports the workers’ right to strike.“It’s just unfortunate that we’ve sort of been caught in the middle here.”Advocacy group concerned for private retailRandhawa isn’t the only private liquor store feeling the effects of the LDB’s closure.Bo Chen, executive director of B.C.’s Alliance of Beverage Licensees (ABLE B.C.), said other private retailers have already cut hours and laid off staff.Chen said most private liquor stores typically order wholesale through the LDB and the shipments go through the government distribution centres stationed throughout the province.While there are some channels that allow retailers to purchase directly from certain manufacturers and producers, Chen said they are restricted to certain categories of products.While some retailers had tried to prepare their inventory, Chen said the strike is lasting longer than expected.He said many local producers and brands have products tied up in warehouses.“It’s just sitting there gathering dust,” Chen said.A ready-to-drink cocktail business based in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood is dealing with that issue.Noel Steen, founder of Please! Beverage Co. in Vancouver, says the business is struggling as B.C.’s Liquor Distribution Branch is closed due to ongoing strike action. (CBC News)Noel Steen, founder of Please! Beverage Co., said the strike has entirely shut down the wholesale side of his business.Steen said his beverages have to be distributed through the LDB — he’s not allowed to sell directly to liquor stores.“We can’t move product directly, and all the [government-run liquor stores] are closed and the LDB is closed. So the distribution of product to the retail stores … is on hold until the resolution. So not a subtle impact, a massive impact.”A brewery worker reaches for fresh cans at Please! Beverage Co. in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood on Oct. 11, 2025. (Kier Junos/CBC)While the business’ brewery and tasting room has seen a slight uptick in sales due to the lack of in-store availability, Steen said it isn’t enough to balance the shortcomings on the wholesale side.“We’re caught in the middle of this. We have obviously no influence over it, and we’re suffering.”Union, province want to return to bargainingPaul Finch, president of the B.C. General Employee’s Union (BCGEU) told CBC News last week the union wants to see the province return to the bargaining table with a reasonable offer, which he said would minimize the strike’s impact on British Columbians.”Our hope is that the government would be willing to negotiate with a reasonable offer.”Finance Minister Brenda Bailey said last week that the province is focused on getting back to the bargaining table.”There’s no question that there is an impact from these valued government workers not being at work, and we are seeing some slowdowns in some areas,” Bailey said.Distillery gains new customersOne manufacturer in Richmond, B.C., however, is seeing newfound success amid the strike.Deep Blue Distillery has seen a “huge influx” in orders from private liquor retailers as well as restaurants and bars, according to co-founder Kyla Lee.“It’s like a hundred-fold increase,” Lee said.“We’re bottling the vodka that we created to store because we can’t produce it fast enough to keep up with the demand right now,” she added.Lee hopes these new customer relationships will last after the strike ends.“Now they know we’re here, and they know that instead of your big American or European brands of liquor, you can buy locally made liquor for sometimes even cheaper,” she said.ABOUT THE AUTHORLauren Vanderdeen is a web writer for CBC British Columbia. She formerly worked for community newspapers, including the Burnaby Now and New West Record. You can reach her at lauren.vanderdeen@cbc.ca.With files from Shaurya Kshatri, Cory Correia, Courtney Dickson, Kier Junos and Emily Fagan
Some private liquor businesses in B.C. struggle amid BCGEU strike
