B.C.’s Attorney General is not making any promises after being lobbied to open up the liquor industry to more competition.

Dave Eby is not just facing industry based calls from groups like ABLE BC but also from Canada’s Competition Commissioner, who wants the province to allow private retailers to sell their products to restaurants, bars, and hotels.

Currently, hospitality retailers can only buy liquor from the BC Liquor Distribution Branch.

“So we are looking at improvements around how hospitality, restaurants, and bars interact with liquor agencies,” he said.

Eby says improvements are coming after a review of the industry was done.

“6 to 8 months ago, we had Mark Hicken, who’s a lawyer who specializes in liquor policy, do a review of our system and have conversations with industry about what needs to be fixed,” added Eby.

“He produced a report with a bunch of recommendations that are forming the backbone of reforms to liquor policy in the province.”

The Competition Bureau wants the province to implement proper wholesale pricing for restaurants, bars, and hotels.

Matthew Boswell, Canada’s Interim Commissioner of Competition, believes that with more competition, there will be lower prices and better market access for groups like craft breweries.

“We most certainly take those comments into consideration,” added Eby. “I believe very firmly that we can do a better job for hospitality and we are working on that right now.”