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Rules for making or importing non-beverage alcohol Unlike beer, wine or spirits, non-beverage alcohol is liquor that is not intended for drinking. BC allows a number of non-beverage alcohol products to be produced and sold here without restriction (these products as "exempted" under Section 62 of the Liquor Control and Licensing Act). A variety of other non-beverage alcohol products are exempted, but must be monitored and/or have their sales regulated by the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch, whether or not they can be sold in BC. The branch may restrict quantities and/or determine how these products are to be stored, distributed and sold. Still other products - usually with a higher amount of alcohol - may not qualify for exemption under Section 62, and must be distributed through the Liquor Distribution Branch. Any manufacturer or importer found selling or buying a non-alcoholic product not exempted under Section 62 may have the product seized and face a fine of $500.00 or more. Categories The Liquor Control and Licensing Branch classifies non-beverage alcohol as either:
These are cough medicines, medicinal tonics, tinctures, etc. Most contain enough ingredients other than liquor to stop them being consumed as alcoholic beverages, and manufacturers or importers of non-portable alcoholic beverages are not normally required to apply for an exemption. However, if there is any question about whether or not a medicinal preparation containing alcohol satisfies Section 62, manufacturers and importers should apply to the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch to confirm that they are exempt, before they start to make or import the product.
These include stomach bitters, digestive aids and tonics claiming to have restorative or therapeutic value. Potable alcoholic medicinals are subject to the Pharmacists, Pharmacy Operators and Drug Scheduling Act as well as the Liquor Control and Licensing Act, and may only be sold in pharmacies. Any company planning to make or import these products for sale in British Columbia must apply to the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch for exemption. The branch will monitor and regulate the sales of any product that qualifies for exemption.
These are toiletries, such as mouthwash; cooking preparations, such as vanilla extract and liqueur-filled chocolates; cleaning and disinfecting agents, such as Lysol; baking flavours and extracts; and "industrial strength" flavouring agents. Most are automatically exempted because they contain enough ingredients other than liquor to stop them being consumed as alcoholic beverages. However, if there is any question about whether or not a preparation satisfies Section 62, manufacturers and importers should apply to the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch to confirm that they are exempt, before they start to make or import the product.
These include cooking wine and cooking spirits, etc. Because many salted culinary preparations have the potential to be potable unless denatured (made unfit for drinking), any company planning to make or import these products for sale in British Columbia must apply to the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch for exemption. The branch will monitor and regulate the sales of any product that qualifies for exemption. About cooking wine made from rice alcohol BC government liquor stores are the only outlets allowed to sell rice alcohol with a salt content of less than 1.5 per cent. Private retailers are restricted to selling rice alcohol with an alcohol content of less than 10 per cent and a salt content of at least 1.5 per cent. Commercial users (such as restaurants and food manufacturers) may buy cooking wine made from rice alcohol that contains more than 10 percent alcohol directly from importers or distributors, in bulk containers of 10 litres or more. Importers and distributors must pre-sell each shipment, and report
this information to the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch. The reports must cover the entire shipment and be submitted
for each shipment. Importers complete the Record of Cooking
Alcohol Shipment (LCLB46) Application process To apply for an exemption for a specific non-beverage alcohol product, you will need to send to the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch:
A panel will then evaluate your product and determine if it qualifies for exemption. If it qualifies, but must be monitored, the branch will send one sample bottle for laboratory analysis to confirm that the alcohol content and/or salt content is the same as that stated on the sample labels. If the lab confirms the content, we will then advise you of the product's exempt status and any terms and conditions we impose on the making, importing or sale of the product. If it is not confirmed by the lab, we will ask you to re-apply, possibly under another exemption category. For more information Information on exemption policies and application procedures for each category of non-beverage alcohol are available on-line. Go to:
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Updated: September 12, 2007 | ||||
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form; distributors complete the 