Starting February 12th, the Quebec government will authorize the provincial liquor board to replenish certain U.S. products to prevent potential quality declines by March 2027. Eric Girard, the minister overseeing the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ), unveiled this plan on Thursday. The Crown corporation will contribute sales proceeds from these products to support Food Banks of Quebec. Girard described this initiative as an extraordinary step beyond the usual support efforts for Quebec residents. The SAQ confirmed that they will donate an amount equal to the sales’ product costs to the food banks, potentially reaching $8.6 million.
Despite this decision, the restrictions on selling products that fail to meet government standards and importing American goods, imposed on March 4, 2025, will still be enforced. The returning products mainly consist of clear glass bottles, including alcoholic creams and liqueurs, and will be available at specific SAQ Dépôt outlets and online. A 15% discount will be applied to all these products, with those at SAQ Dépôt stores also eligible for the standard discount provided by the banner.