531:
prohibit spirits, such as whisky and scotch, which came to be called partial prohibition. The government invoked illegal distillation, but mounting pressure forced it to backtrack. The
Alcoholic Beverages Act abolished partial prohibition in 1921. This act created the Quebec Liquor Commission as a monopoly in distribution and retail of alcohol (SAQ, 2009). Officially, the government stated control of alcohol abuse as the official reason to create this new agency. Over the years, the SAQ increased its profits, which were transferred to the government. The Régie des alcools du Québec (RAQ) was created in 1961 in order to promote business growth, which opened its first self-service branch soon afterward. With the opening of other branches, the government began to focus on different aspects of alcohol sales in Quebec. “The government commissions a new study into the alcoholic beverage trade, creating the Thinel Commission for the purpose”. Based on the recommendations of the Thinel Commission in 1971, the Société des Alcools du Québec was founded in order to be in charge of sales. The SAQ took over the RAQ branches and employees and became strictly commercial. The SAQ continued to produce economic growth for the Quebec government as time went on. Its strength in commercialization prompted several privatization projects that were submitted to the government. Specifically in 1983, when it was announced that the SAQ retail network would be privatized, it was strongly opposed by unions. Petkantchin explains that this privatization project suffered many weaknesses: it involved privatizing “certain points of sale in Montreal” but with no competition allowed from the remaining SAQ stores. Petkantchin argues that “benefits to consumers of this partial privatization, had it gone ahead, would have been very limited.” Consumers would have remained “captive, with no real alternative”. Baffling the mind, the remaining SAQ branches would also have been sheltered from competition from the privatized stores, which would have been required to buy their merchandise from the SAQ at fixed prices.
483:
203:
223:
148:
128:
27:
437:
of alcohol is 18 in Quebec and there are restrictions as to who can purchase alcoholic beverages (R.S.Q. I-8.1). By law, SAQ stores cannot sell alcohol to minors or adults intent on distributing to minors (including the holders of parental authority). Nonetheless, underage persons are not restricted
530:
decided not to act upon the vote results. By 1917, every province except Quebec implemented a complete ban on alcohol. A year later, a law was proposed in Quebec calling for complete prohibition in 1919. The law was never enacted due to opposition from the public and the
Catholic Church. Quebec did
446:
The opening hours of most SAQ stores are dictated by the provincial law, which forbids sales of all alcohol before 9 AM and after 11 PM. However most stores close at 6 PM on Monday through
Wednesday, 9 PM Thursday and Friday, and at 5 PM on Saturday and Sunday. There are however SAQ Express outlets
525:
In Canada the struggle for the total ban of alcohol began in the 1898 national referendum, asking people if they wished total prohibition which included importation, manufacturing and sale of all types of alcohol beverages. Although the national results were extremely close with Yes leading by 2%,
521:
was established to conduct the trade of beer, wine and cider, and eventually spirits too. This provincial-owned corporation would then on exercise a legal monopoly on all distribution of alcohol in Quebec. In its first year, the commission establishes a quality control laboratory, opens 64 stores
526:
regional disparities were wide. In Quebec, 81% of voters ended up rejecting the prohibition proposal in contrast to the rest of Canada. In fear of splitting the country on a sharp divide between
Catholic French and Protestant English Canada, then Prime Minister
416:
As the sole provider of alcohol in Quebec, the SAQ's market data gives an overview of alcohol consumption in the province. In its 2015–2016 annual report, the
Corporation states that 79.3% of sales through the SAQ stores and grocery stores were
469:
for recreational use across the country, the
Province was planning to have the SAQ manage the sale of the product. Initially, 20 stores would be opened; on-line sales would also be offered, with deliveries to customers made by
447:
which carry a smaller range of products are open from 11 AM to 10 PM daily. Another 10-20 franchises also exist that allow to sell SAQ products (including liquor) until 9 PM, and all belong to Quebec-based grocery chain
608:
587:
1104:
1011:
707:
377:
1099:
1129:
1066:
1044:
1000:
1119:
1054:
1005:
972:
1049:
967:
939:
561:
460:
184:
1124:
1016:
482:
1109:
1038:
891:
869:
850:
831:
812:
790:
771:
1114:
551:
651:
1072:
990:
978:
546:
995:
726:
711:
693:
556:
411:
1060:
932:
249:
58:
438:
from SAQ stores. Official policy is to ask for photo identification from any customer who looks under 25.
1094:
948:
682:"Legal Drinking Age by Province in Canada" (Document). Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse. 2008-10-30.
1021:
925:
107:
541:
202:
162:
268:(R.S.Q. S-13). The sole share-holder is the Minister of Finance of the Quebec government.
8:
466:
434:
422:
211:
727:"Quebec to sell cannabis online via provincial liquor board, Radio-Canada sources say"
296:
The SAQ operates more than 400 stores under six different banners throughout Quebec:
962:
629:
527:
383:
917:
309:
Express: top-selling products, in large urban centres, extended business hours
264:
The official legislation governing the SAQ's operations and management is the
222:
26:
1088:
566:
522:
selling 383 products, employs 415 people and grosses $ 15 million in sales.
303:: varied selection, in towns and villages where there is only one SAQ branch
332:
331:
Some wines and low-alcoholic-content beverages are also sold in Quebec in
471:
694:"Act respecting offences relating to alcoholic beverages, CQLR c I-8.1"
179:
140:
609:"The SAQ announces net income of $ 1.426 billion for fiscal 2022-2023"
588:"The SAQ announces net income of $ 1.426 billion for fiscal 2022-2023"
256:
responsible for the trade of alcoholic beverages within the province.
465:
In late 2017, some eight months before the expected legalisation of
276:
215:
88:
68:
425:, 3.9% coolers, 1.7% beers and 0.3% ciders and other products.
253:
92:
451:, whose stores all open at 9 AM and close at 9 PM, every day.
421:. The remainder was shared among various products: 14.8% were
282:
The symbol of the SAQ represents three aspects of SAQ stores:
881:
879:
500:
Quebec Liquor
Commission (Commission des liqueurs du Québec)
802:
800:
418:
315:: extended selection, professional service and counselling
876:
797:
778:
759:
838:
910:
286:
The white letter "Q" represents the province of Quebec
206:
A line of customers waiting to enter the store in the
194:
1105:
Canadian provincial alcohol departments and agencies
724:
504:
Régie des alcools du Québec (Quebec Liquor
Control)
819:
630:"Act respecting the Société des alcools du Québec"
1086:
947:
696:. Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII).
405:
266:Act respecting the Société des alcools du Québec
857:
1045:Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission
890:sfn error: no target: CITEREFPetkantchin2005 (
849:sfn error: no target: CITEREFParadisSacy2005 (
811:sfn error: no target: CITEREFPetkantchin2005 (
789:sfn error: no target: CITEREFPetkantchin2005 (
770:sfn error: no target: CITEREFPetkantchin2005 (
338:
933:
657:(Report). Société des alcools du Québec. 2016
644:
321:: warehouse-style stores, wholesale packages
885:
844:
806:
784:
765:
454:
1055:Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux
940:
926:
16:Canadian alcoholic beverages retail chain
1100:Alcohol distribution retailers of Canada
1050:Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario
830:sfn error: no target: CITEREFDupré2008 (
481:
428:
221:
201:
118:Liquor sales to consumers and businesses
1130:Canadian companies established in 1921
1087:
868:sfn error: no target: CITEREFSAQ2009 (
686:
622:
45:Régie des alcools du Québec (1961–71)
1039:Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch
921:
825:
1120:Retail companies established in 1921
725:Angelica Montgomery (Nov 14, 2017).
552:Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission
863:
498:was created in 1921 under the name
239:
13:
490:serving a client in Montreal, 1945
42:Quebec Liquor Commission (1921–61)
14:
1141:
902:
441:
147:
146:
127:
126:
25:
750:
737:
547:Liquor Control Board of Ontario
259:
718:
700:
675:
669:
601:
580:
562:Société québécoise du cannabis
557:Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation
461:Société québécoise du cannabis
398:Catherine Dagenais (2018–2023)
368:Daniel Wermelinger (1978–1983)
185:Société québécoise du cannabis
1:
1125:1921 establishments in Quebec
573:
508:Société des alcools du Québec
496:Société des alcools du Québec
412:Alcoholic beverages in Canada
406:Alcohol consumption in Quebec
365:Jacques Desmeules (1971–1978)
273:Société des alcools du Québec
232:Société des alcools du Québec
20:Société des alcools du Québec
1110:Crown corporations of Quebec
1061:Alcohol and Gaming Authority
949:Liquor authorities of Canada
374:Jocelyn Tremblay (1986–1997)
275:headquarters are located in
7:
1115:Companies based in Montreal
534:
389:Sylvain Toutant (2004–2007)
339:Presidents-general managers
10:
1146:
477:
458:
409:
392:Philippe Duval (2008–2013)
292:The image of a store front
1031:
955:
747:, retrieved June 11, 2010
502:. In 1961, it became the
371:Jean-Guy Lord (1983–1986)
356:Édouard Archambault (CLQ)
245:Québec Liquor Corporation
190:
178:
168:
158:
138:
122:
114:
100:
82:
74:
64:
54:
33:
24:
652:SAQ - Annual Report 2016
519:Quebec Liquor Commission
488:Quebec Liquor Commission
455:Distribution of cannabis
395:Alain Brunet (2014–2018)
353:J.-Édouard Tellier (CLQ)
208:Quebec Liquor Commission
1069:(Northwest Territories)
956:Retail and/or licensing
845:Paradis & Sacy 2005
515:Alcoholic Beverages Act
344:Georges-A. Simard (CLQ)
1073:Liquor Licensing Board
1067:Liquor Licensing Board
632:. Government of Quebec
542:Pied-du-Courant Prison
491:
227:
219:
743:SAQ. "", on the site
710:. SAQ. Archived from
485:
429:Legal age of purchase
410:Further information:
362:Roger Laverdure (RAQ)
226:A suburban SAQ store.
225:
218:. September 23, 1944.
205:
174:More than 7500 (2016)
401:Jacques Farcy (2023-
359:Lorne G. Power (RAQ)
163:Government of Quebec
517:was passed and the
486:An employee of the
350:Arthur Savoie (CLQ)
347:L.-B. Cordeau (CLQ)
170:Number of employees
21:
1095:Alcohol monopolies
1041:(British Columbia)
506:and, in 1971, the
492:
289:The red wine glass
248:) is a provincial
228:
220:
212:Saint Denis Street
19:
1082:
1081:
250:Crown corporation
200:
199:
152:CA$ 1.426 billion
132:CA$ 4.048 billion
86:7500, rue Tellier
59:Crown corporation
1137:
991:Alcool NB Liquor
963:BC Liquor Stores
942:
935:
928:
919:
918:
914:
913:
911:Official website
896:
895:
886:Petkantchin 2005
883:
874:
873:
861:
855:
854:
842:
836:
835:
823:
817:
816:
807:Petkantchin 2005
804:
795:
794:
785:Petkantchin 2005
782:
776:
775:
766:Petkantchin 2005
763:
757:
754:
748:
741:
735:
734:
722:
716:
715:
704:
698:
697:
690:
684:
683:
679:
673:
667:
666:
664:
662:
656:
648:
642:
641:
639:
637:
626:
620:
619:
617:
615:
605:
599:
598:
596:
594:
584:
252:and monopoly in
247:
241:
153:
150:
149:
133:
130:
129:
29:
22:
18:
1145:
1144:
1140:
1139:
1138:
1136:
1135:
1134:
1085:
1084:
1083:
1078:
1027:
951:
946:
909:
908:
905:
900:
899:
889:
884:
877:
867:
862:
858:
848:
843:
839:
829:
824:
820:
810:
805:
798:
788:
783:
779:
769:
764:
760:
755:
751:
742:
738:
723:
719:
708:"Opening hours"
706:
705:
701:
692:
691:
687:
681:
680:
676:
670:
660:
658:
654:
650:
649:
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623:
613:
611:
607:
606:
602:
592:
590:
586:
585:
581:
576:
571:
537:
528:Wilfrid Laurier
480:
463:
457:
444:
435:age of purchase
431:
414:
408:
384:Louis L. Roquet
341:
301:SAQ (Classique)
262:
242:
171:
151:
143:
131:
106:Jacques Farcy,
103:
95:
87:
50:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1143:
1133:
1132:
1127:
1122:
1117:
1112:
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1097:
1080:
1079:
1077:
1076:
1070:
1064:
1058:
1052:
1047:
1042:
1035:
1033:
1032:Licensing only
1029:
1028:
1026:
1025:
1019:
1017:Nunavut Liquor
1014:
1009:
1008:(Newfoundland)
1003:
998:
993:
988:
982:
976:
970:
965:
959:
957:
953:
952:
945:
944:
937:
930:
922:
916:
915:
904:
903:External links
901:
898:
897:
875:
856:
837:
818:
796:
777:
758:
749:
736:
717:
714:on 2013-02-08.
699:
685:
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643:
621:
600:
578:
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575:
572:
570:
569:
564:
559:
554:
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449:L'Inter-Marché
443:
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15:
9:
6:
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3:
2:
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1128:
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1123:
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1118:
1116:
1113:
1111:
1108:
1106:
1103:
1101:
1098:
1096:
1093:
1092:
1090:
1074:
1071:
1068:
1065:
1063:(Nova Scotia)
1062:
1059:
1056:
1053:
1051:
1048:
1046:
1043:
1040:
1037:
1036:
1034:
1030:
1023:
1020:
1018:
1015:
1013:
1010:
1007:
1004:
1002:
999:
997:
994:
992:
989:
986:
983:
980:
977:
974:
971:
969:
966:
964:
961:
960:
958:
954:
950:
943:
938:
936:
931:
929:
924:
923:
920:
912:
907:
906:
893:
888:, p. 10.
887:
882:
880:
871:
865:
860:
852:
846:
841:
833:
827:
822:
814:
808:
803:
801:
792:
786:
781:
773:
767:
762:
753:
746:
740:
732:
728:
721:
713:
709:
703:
695:
689:
678:
672:
653:
647:
631:
625:
610:
604:
589:
583:
579:
568:
567:Systembolaget
565:
563:
560:
558:
555:
553:
550:
548:
545:
543:
540:
539:
532:
529:
523:
520:
516:
511:
509:
505:
501:
497:
489:
484:
475:
473:
468:
462:
452:
450:
442:Opening hours
439:
436:
426:
424:
420:
413:
400:
397:
394:
391:
388:
385:
382:
379:
378:Gaétan Frigon
376:
373:
370:
367:
364:
361:
358:
355:
352:
349:
346:
343:
342:
336:
334:
326:
323:
320:
317:
314:
313:SAQ Sélection
311:
308:
305:
302:
299:
298:
297:
291:
288:
285:
284:
283:
280:
278:
274:
269:
267:
257:
255:
251:
246:
237:
233:
224:
217:
213:
209:
204:
196:
193:
189:
186:
183:
181:
177:
173:
167:
164:
161:
157:
145:
142:
137:
125:
121:
117:
113:
110:and President
109:
105:
99:
94:
90:
85:
81:
77:
73:
70:
67:
63:
60:
57:
53:
44:
41:
40:
39:
38:
36:
32:
28:
23:
984:
859:
840:
828:, p. 5.
821:
809:, p. 8.
787:, p. 5.
780:
768:, p. 4.
761:
752:
744:
739:
730:
720:
712:the original
702:
688:
677:
671:
659:. Retrieved
646:
634:. Retrieved
624:
612:. Retrieved
603:
591:. Retrieved
582:
524:
518:
514:
513:In 1921, an
512:
507:
503:
499:
495:
493:
487:
464:
448:
445:
432:
415:
333:supermarkets
330:
324:
318:
312:
306:
300:
295:
281:
272:
270:
265:
263:
260:Organization
244:
235:
231:
229:
207:
180:Subsidiaries
83:Headquarters
55:Company type
973:Liquor Mart
968:Sask Liquor
661:January 19,
636:January 19,
472:Canada Post
419:table wines
386:(2003–2004)
380:(1998–2002)
195:www.saq.com
1089:Categories
1012:NWT Liquor
975:(Manitoba)
826:Dupré 2008
574:References
459:See also:
327:: Webstore
141:Net income
102:Key people
1075:(Nunavut)
981:(Ontario)
614:August 6,
593:August 6,
467:marijuana
319:SAQ Dépôt
1057:(Quebec)
987:(Quebec)
864:SAQ 2009
731:CBC News
535:See also
277:Montreal
216:Montreal
210:located
115:Products
89:Montreal
65:Industry
34:Formerly
1024:(Yukon)
745:SAQ.com
478:History
423:spirits
325:SAQ.com
243:
240:transl.
191:Website
154:(2023)
134:(2023)
123:Revenue
96:H1N 3W5
75:Founded
1001:PEILCC
254:Quebec
93:Quebec
69:Retail
655:(PDF)
159:Owner
996:NSLC
979:LCBO
892:help
870:help
851:help
832:help
813:help
791:help
772:help
663:2021
638:2021
616:2023
595:2023
494:The
433:The
271:The
230:The
78:1921
1022:YLC
1006:NLC
985:SAQ
307:SAQ
236:SAQ
214:in
108:CEO
1091::
878:^
799:^
756:""
729:.
510:.
474:.
335:.
279:.
238:;
91:,
941:e
934:t
927:v
894:)
872:)
866:.
853:)
847:.
834:)
815:)
793:)
774:)
733:.
665:.
640:.
618:.
597:.
234:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
