Comparing booze prices in different provinces can be influriating in Canada...

But Western provinces give you more freedom in what to buy, even if not where to buy it.

I landed in Saskatoon after a late in the evening flight from Toronto on Thursday. As we headed to a family gathering south of the city, we stopped to pick up some refreshments to add to the festivities.

First off, I’ll say private liquor stores in Sask, like the ones run by Sobey’s or Co-Op are generally quite nice. It’s proof that you can have private liquor stores, the province won’t fall apart and consumers can get their products in a nice, clean, friendly environment.

You can also buy booze here that is forbidden in Ontario.

But holy crap is beer expensive here!

The largest pack of Stella Artois they had at the store we stopped in sold for $56.99 for an 18 pack plus $1.80 bottle deposit making the final price $58.79.

Compare that to Ontario where a 24 pack of Stella at The Beer Store will set you back $56.62 all in or Quebec where Stella is on sale at $30.66 a 24 pack plus tax and deposit meaning a total price of $37.65 as part of a three day sale.

The combined federal and provincial tax rate for Quebec is about 31.5%, Ontario’s is 43% and Sakatchewan’s are the highest in the country at 49.4%.

While beer is more expensive in Sask, Ontario made liquor is cheaper here…

Why is it that in Saskatoon I can buy a bottle of Wiser’s whiskey, made in Windsor, Ontario, for about $10 cheaper than I can at the LCBO, Ontario’s government run liquor stores?

The same bottle seen here in a Saskatoon Co-Op store sells for $21.99 on sale. At the LCBO right now, this same bottle - made in Ontario - costs $31.45 which is a sale from their regular price of $32.95.

Just below these bottles you can see Gibson’s Finest which is selling for $26.99 in Saskatoon compared to $35.95 at the LCBO. Gibson’s is also made in Windsor, Ontario but is cheaper after being trucked more than 3,000 kilometres.

In Saskatchewan, consumers can choose what to buy…

Ontario has had a ban on the sale of American alcohol products via the LCBO since March 2025. In Saskatchewan, as in Alberta, you can choose whether to buy your Kentucky bourbon or California wine.

That’s a lot of sweet, sweet bourbon for sale at a Sobey’s store in Saskatoon.

If you want to buy some California wine in Saskatoon, you can.

So far, Alberta and Saskatchewan are alone in allowing the regular sale of American alcohol. Consumers who want to boycott here can and I’m sure many do. I hear plenty of anti-Trump/anti-American attittudes here so sales are likely lower than they were pre-tariff.

That said, you are an adult and can buy Yankee hooch if you want to.

That won’t be happening in Ontario anytime soon. In his interview with the Toronto Star that I profiled earlier, Premier Doug Ford said he was keeping American booze off the shelves.

The premier said the prime minister has pointed out to him that Ontario’s ban on American spirits, wine and beer from LCBO shelves is a problem for U.S. trade negotiators.

“He’s mentioned it. But there’s irritants on both sides. Both sides have a few irritants that we will get out of the way,” he said, expressing hope Trump removes the punishing tariffs on Canadian auto parts, steel, aluminum, lumber and other goods.

Ford said “as soon as we have CUSMA” renewed he would look at lifting the retaliatory measures that have kept California wine and Kentucky bourbon out of LCBO stories across the province since March 2025.

“It’s no different than the tariffs they put on auto, steel, lumber,” he said, pointing out the booze ban is “a kitchen table issue” that reminds Ontarians of the trade war Trump started.

It’s enough to make me cry in my beer, but here in Saskatchewan, that’s simply too expensive.