Grocery and convenience store liquor licences: tighter rules on private-label products and exclusive manufacturer arrangements

Plain-language summary · AI-assisted · not legal advice

Grocery and convenience store licensees are now explicitly prohibited from selling any liquor that qualifies as "private label" — meaning any brand in which they or an affiliate hold a direct or indirect financial interest, including through a related trademark. The amendment also introduces a defined concept of an "exclusive label arrangement," which licensees are prohibited from entering into; this covers any deal with a liquor manufacturer that restricts the manufacturer from selling its products in stores not owned or operated by the licensee. These changes sharpen and reorganize rules that previously existed in broader language, giving clearer definitions to help licensees identify what conduct is off-limits. Grocery and convenience store operators selling alcohol should review their supplier agreements and any house-brand or affiliate-branded liquor arrangements to confirm compliance. Winery licensees will notice only minor citation housekeeping changes to their section of the regulation — no substantive rules changed for them.

Who this affects: grocery store liquor licensees · convenience store liquor licensees · liquor manufacturers supplying grocery or convenience stores · retail compliance teams