OFF-SALE RETAILERS RECEIVE BEER DISCOUNT

Saskatchewan's off-sale liquor retailers will again receive a discount on annual beer purchases totaling more than $100,000, effective July 1st, 2004.

The discounts for off-sale permittees on annual beer purchases totaling more than $100,000 are being reinstated. On April 1st, government implemented changes to the structure of the off-sale permittee beer discount that capped the discount at $1.50 per dozen on beer purchases totaling up to $100,000 annually.

"The change to the beer discount structure was not intended to significantly impact the business of off-sale permittees in this province," Minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority Eric Cline said. "We made a commitment to monitor the impact of the changes and we found that the unseasonably cold, wet spring in Saskatchewan had a drastic effect on beer sales and magnified the impact of the discount changes for off-sale permittees."

The reinstated discount is $1.50 per dozen for off-sale permittees with annual purchases less than $100,000, $1.40 per dozen for off-sale permittees with annual purchases totaling between $100,000 and $400,000 and $1.10 per dozen for off-sale permittees with annual purchases totaling more than $400,000.

The reinstated discounts will benefit approximately 240 of the 489 off-sale permittees in the province, predominantly those located in urban centres or high-volume outlets in rural areas.

"When the discount was changed in April, off-sale retailers told me that they had to raise their prices in order to remain competitive and profitable," Cline said. "Now that the beer discount has been reinstated I would expect that businesses will pass those savings on to their customers."

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For More Information, Contact:

David Morris Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority Regina Phone: (306) 787-1721