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The BC Craft Brewers Guild has been working hard in 2025 to protect craft beer producers in BC, arguing that the province’s stepped markup system discourages small breweries from growing. The “Protect BC Craft Beer” campaign outlines how taxation increases steadily as producers scale and inhibits growth for smaller producers like craft brewers. Guild representatives recently met with Minister of Agriculture and Food, Lana Popham, a sign that the push to protect smaller craft beer manufacturers is gaining political attention.
According to The Growler BC, craft beer producers that brew 15,000 hectolitres (hl) per year or less pay a wholesale markup of $0.40 per litre. A “hectolitre” (hl) is a metric unit of volume equal to 100 litres. Once brewers cross that threshold, the rate rises through multiple tiers, reaching $1.08 per litre at 350,000 hl. Importantly, production volumes over 350,000 hl still pay only $1.08 per litre, which benefits large-scale producers.
In 2025, LCRB made other positive changes. LCRB Bulletin 25-05, “Update to Manufacturer Terms and Conditions for Producing Non-Intoxicating Beverages,” offers some relief to producers by excluding non-intoxicating beverages from annual alcohol production totals, creating a way for brewers to add revenue streams without increasing their tax rate. Wineries were also heard. LCRB Bulletin 25-06 announced the repeal of the 4,500 litre minimum annual production requirement for wineries, reducing the administrative burden and streamlining licensing requirements for all liquor manufacturers.
Liquor License Consultants Who Understand the BC Production Environment
Thrive Advisors offers liquor license consulting in BC and other areas. Whether you are just starting out and need support for your start-up, or you already run a liquor business, we’re good people to know! Thrive provides everything a liquor licensee needs: help with liquor license applications, compliance audits, operational guidance and more.
