New rule lets Quebecers bring in booze from other provinces

It is now legal to bring alcohol purchased in another province into Quebec for personal consumption.

Quebec was thelast province not to allow citizens to bring alcohol from elsewhere in Canada.

Finance Minister Carlos Leito and Public Security Minister Lise Thriaultissued a statement todaysaying the province's rules have been loosened.

"Our government insisted that the regulation on the transport of alcohol beadapted to today's reality. This initiative will now allow consumers to return to Quebec withalcoholic beverages purchased in other Canadian provinces for their own personal consumption, as they could already do on their return to Canada from abroad," said Thriault in a statement.

It's now permitted for individuals to bring up to 12 bottles of wine, four bottles of spirits, and three cases of 24beers into the province.

Legacy of Prohibition

It was a change in federal law a few years ago that opened the door to the practice.

CanadasImportation of Intoxicating Liquors Act isa 1928 law that states "no person shall import, send, take or transport, or cause to be imported, sent, taken or transported, into any province from or out of any place within or outside Canada any intoxicating liquor."

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The law is a reminder of the legacy of Prohibition, a temperance movement that broke out across Canada and the U.S. in the early20thcentury.

The Canadian law regarding the shipping of alcohol was meant to thwart bootleggers, and led to a gradual devolution of federal responsibility to the provinces in matters relating to liquor. Each province established an agency that oversees the distribution, sale and consumption of wine, beer and spirits.

No shipping

Though the regulation changes will allow people to bring a bottle of wine from atrip to the OkanaganValley or Niagara-on-the-Lake,it will still be prohibitedfor someone to to order alcohol or wine from another province and have it shipped to Quebec.

"The SAQ [Quebec Liquor Corporation] remains a world leader in the selection and sale of wines and spirits, andprovidesQuebecers ashopping experiencethat meets their high expectations," said Leito.