Montreal City Weblog

Kate 11:42 on 2024-03-02 Permalink Reply  

• Ephraim 13:35 on 2024-03-02 Permalink

  This is the type of government that will likely start to talk about privatizing the SAQ like they did in Alberta.

• carswell 14:37 on 2024-03-02 Permalink

  It’s not exactly a 15-day strike mandate in that it’s for 15 jours décomposables, which I’ve been told means 15 days worth of strike hours. So, for example, the union can call a strike for an afternoon or part of one and just those hours will be deducted from the total. And not much advance notice is required.

  The SAQ recently made network-wide cuts in store staff (and with their declining sales and reduced store traffic, it’s hard to blame them), which the union will be keen on nipping in the bud. The union will also be aware of the new distribution model the monopoly will be shifting to when it opens its new, 100% automated warehouse in a few years, a change that will allow Montreal-area consumers to order wines and spirits — including single bottles of private imports (you currently have to buy a case) — and have them delivered to their home or store of their choosing within 24 hours, effectively replacing a to-be-determined amount of store sales and turning the stores into pick-up points as much as points of sale. On the other hand, the SAQ is, like just about every business, short staffed and can’t afford to alienate or disincentivize current or future employees.

• John B 14:46 on 2024-03-02 Permalink

  Would privatizing the SAQ be bad as a consumer? Alberta & BC, where private liquor stores are allowed, have better selection & better prices than Quebec. For example, there will be stores that aren’t 99% French wines – we’ll be able to enjoy the amazing wines of Niagara, Okanagan, California, New Zealand, Chile, and Australia.

• Kate 16:44 on 2024-03-02 Permalink

  I remember a study that showed that retail prices were actually higher in Alberta, because individual private owners weren’t benefiting from the bulk prices the SAQ gets. But I can’t cite a reference.

• CE 16:51 on 2024-03-02 Permalink

  Does anyone know why sales are declining at the SAQ?

• Blork 17:02 on 2024-03-02 Permalink

  @CE apparently alcohol consumption is dropping everywhere, so it should be no surprise that it’s dropping here too. Mostly for health reasons (younger people in particular drink less) but also for economic reasons I think (alcohol can be is expensive).

  “Canadians decreased their consumption of alcoholic beverages again in 2022 after a slight increase during 2021. Consumption stood at 97.5 liters per capita. This represents an overall reduction of nine percent since 2008. Gen Z Canadians were the most likely to say they were reducing their alcohol consumption in 2023.”

  Source: https://www.statista.com/topics/2998/alcohol-consumption-in-canada/

• Uatu 17:07 on 2024-03-02 Permalink

  Maybe because of an overall decline in drinking? I’ve seen news stories about the trend towards non alcoholic beverages like mocktails and 0% beers especially among young people. Health Canada labelling alcohol as a carcinogen doesn’t help either.

• Kevin 19:35 on 2024-03-02 Permalink

  The decline in drinking is negligible and is an artifact of the pandemic and how it broke supply chains. In particular the SAQ’s restaurant side saw a deluge of sales post-lockdown, and so what’s going on now is a correction because restaurants have topped up their inventory.

  Retail sales are down about 1% by volume, but on the wholesale (restaurant) side, it’s down 14% in the past quarter.