Customers baffled that P.E.I. does not allow low-alcohol beer in grocery stores

In the age of legal marijuana, fans of low-alcohol beer are baffled by P.E.I. legislation that prevents it from being sold in local grocery stores.

"I think it's kind of silly," saidHannah Brown, who is originally from P.E.I. but now lives in Halifax, where low-alcohol beer is easily bought in grocery stores.

P.E.I and Nunavutdon't allow it in retail stores.

Brown saidshe and her husband enjoy non-alcoholic or low-alcoholbeer almost daily.

"This is really good. Ittastes just like beer, it's got 50 calories, it's got 0.5 per centalcohol," she said.

She saidshe wasdisappointed when she came home to P.E.I. for a visit and realized the brands with small amounts of alcohol weren't available.

The Liquor Control Act prevents beer with any alcohol from being sold in grocery stores. It's a rule that was put in place in 1992. Officialswith the Liquor Control Commission said parents were concerned at the time about children buying low-percentage beer products.

"Anything above point zero must be sold through the P.E.I. Liquor Control Commission," saidJamieMacLeod, director of corporate services for the commission.

More variety needed

P.E.I. resident Jessica Fritz, who is originally from Germany, said non-alcoholic or low-alcoholbeer is popular in her homeland, andshe's disappointed in the lack of choice here.

"I don't really understand why," she said.

She doesn't find the zero per cent beer that are currently sold in P.E.I. grocery stores to be very flavourful and wishes there were more choices.

"It just doesn't seem to be common sense," she said. "It's all a matter of education."

She said food labelling would be enough to help consumers make the right choices.

More requests for changes

MacLeod saidin recent years they've had increasing requests to revisit the rule.

Although some low-alcohol brands are available in liquor stores, Brownsaidthey are pricier and can have more calories than the store-brand 12-packs commonly sold in neighbouring provinces.

"It's about $8for a 12-pack," said Brown."I think it should be available," she said.

'Increasing pressure'

MacLeod said the commission is looking at possible amendments to the Liquor Control Act, and the government may look at the issue during the spring sitting of the legislature.

Last year, the provincial finance minister said the province had already begun the process ofoverhauling the "outdated" Liquor Control Act after the Charlottetownrestaurant My Plum, My Duck received a warning for serving kombucha, a slightly alcoholic, fermented tea.

Loblaws and Sobeyshoping to work with government

Both major grocery store chains told CBC News they have been speaking to government about the regulations.

"We are always looking for opportunities to bring in new products to our customers, " said Sobeys spokesperson JacquelinCorrado-Weatherbee.

"We would welcome the opportunity to do so in P.E.I.," she said.

"We are currently working with liquor boards in all the Atlantic provinces on encouraging them to modernize their rules in regulations," said MarkBoudreau, director of corporate affairs for Loblaw Atlantic.

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