Superstore wine licence hangs in balance

Coquitlam council is set to think long and hard about that next drink.

Council made the unusual decision Monday to delay their decision on Superstore’s application to sell wine and cider at their Lougheed Highway grocery store, pending further information.

Proponents of the idea, many of whom worked for the grocery chain, emphasized the need for more convenience and choice, as well as the shoppers’ appetite for a wine section. However, several speakers opposed the application on a variety of grounds, ranging from health to the struggles of smaller liquor stores.

Increased availability of alcohol will increase consumption, advised Medical Health Officer for Fraser Health Dr. Cheryl Young.

“I know that when it’s convenient and available, there are people who are going to walk by and say, ‘Oh, I’ll just grab another bottle. I’m already here.’”

Drinking alcohol increases the risk of multiple cancers as well as heart disease, Young said.

“We now know that small amounts of red wine don’t reduce your risk for heart disease. That’s a myth.”

Besides direct health issues, there is also a higher risk of unintentional injuries such as car crashes, resulting in strain on the health care system. Young also noted impacts on the justice system and lost productivity associated with alcohol.

While alcohol generates about $2 billion in annual revenue in B.C., that figure is: “a lot less than the $2.8 billion it costs to society,” Young said.

Superstore’s proposed wine section would be about 160 metres from Berezan Liquor Store – a prospect that worried store proprietor Troy Bilodeau.

“There’s an automatic 15-20 percent loss in wine sales,” he said, noting that his prediction was based on the loss in sales he saw at a Langley location after a nearby Superstore started offering wine.

“We’d hate to have to let some of those people go because of this,” he told council.

While there was some back and forth within the organization, the Maillardville Residents’ Association also ultimately opposed the application, said representative Ben Craig.

The area is already well served by liquore stores. A wine section at Superstore could also impact local businesses, Craig said.

“Beyond the convenience of it, our board is having a really hard time identifying any other benefit to our community.”

If approved, this would be another case of big businesses hastening the deterioration of small businesses, said Woody’s Pub proprietor Gordon Cartwright.

“Basically, all we sell is alcohol. Actually, we’re not even allowed to sell any groceries in our liquor store,” he said.

Cartwright also voiced concerns about minors purchasing alcohol, adding that his staffers keep an eye out for customers re-selling booze to young people outside the store.

After the issue of giving back to the community was raised, Coun. Matt Djonlic asked for specific examples of Superstore’s philanthropy.

“I think that would be valuable information for council,” he said.

That information is set to be presented to council at a future meeting prior to a vote on the application.

The licence

The province issued a moratorium on new grocery store wine licences. However, an already-issued licence can be switched to a different location.

The province requires at least one kilometre between liquor stores. That 1-km buffer doesn’t apply to a grocery store with wine on the shelf.

In 2022, Coquitlam council unanimously voted to allow Save-On-Foods to stock B.C. wines at their store between Pinetree Way and Westwood Street.