Brewer Daniel Campbell, left, surveys his keg-filled domain with Fletcher Stevens,right, co-owner of the NWT Brewing Companing and the Woodyard Brewhouse & Eatery. Stevens would like to be able to sell those kegs directly to Yellowknife businesses, but the NWT Liquor Licensing Board isnSA国际影视传媒檛 having it.
Fletcher Stevens is frustrated his kegs are sealed with red tape. The NWT Liquor Licensing Board recently denied the Explorer Hotel's request to purchase beer directly from his brewery, NWT Brewing Company. Instead, businesses must purchase it through the liquor commission's warehouse.
SA国际影视传媒淲e're trying to find ways to streamline things and yet we're held back by what we can actually sell,SA国际影视传媒� said Stevens, who said he's been approached by local hotels, fishing lodges and Boston Pizza, all interested in stocking his product.
The problem is, he says, when he sells his product through the liquor commission, the commission puts a markup on the product to cover warehouse costs and administrative fees SA国际影视传媒� all while the territory already has the highest beer manufacturing tax in the country.
SA国际影视传媒淏asically it just drives up the cost per litre so our selling price is close to $100 more than a keg of a Molson's or Labatt's product,SA国际影视传媒� he said, which he says means many local businesses wouldn't be able to afford to carry his product and still make a profit.
For micro-breweries making up to 1,500 hectolitres of beer like the NWT Brewing Company does, an additional $1.11 is tacked on for every litre sold. That tax went down to 67 cents on Aug. 3, but that rate is still one of the highest in Canada. According to a 2015 legislative assembly briefing note on beer taxation across Canada, this tax ranges from 20 cents per litre to 98 cents per litre.
The NWT liquor regulations state with the board's permission, NWT Brewing can circumvent the liquor commission's warehouse and administrative fees by distributing its own beer, but the board isn't granting that permission.
Stevens said even a letter from Peter Maher, director of liquor operations, couldn't get the tap flowing.
SA国际影视传媒淭hey're the ones who run it,SA国际影视传媒� said Stevens. SA国际影视传媒淭he people who are enforcing them are saying no to the people who are making them - It just doesn't make sense.SA国际影视传媒�
The NWT Liquor Commission is administered through the Department of Finance. Yellowknifer contacted the department for comment, but was advised this issue isn't under the purview of the commission.
SA国际影视传媒淭he NWT Liquor Licensing Board is responsible for regulating liquor licensing matters such as this (not the Liquor Commission),SA国际影视传媒� stated Todd Sasaki, communications officer with the finance department. SA国际影视传媒淭hey are a regulatory tribunal that operates at 'armSA国际影视传媒檚 length' from the GNWT.SA国际影视传媒�
The NWT Liquor Licensing Board, management at the Explorer Hotel and Peter Maher did not return requests for comment by press time.
Stevens said right now, he is consulting with a lawyer to see if he SA国际影视传媒渁ctually have a leg to stand on.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚 just don't understand what's gone wrong with this liquor board,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淩ight now, there's no rationale for their decisions that they're making. They're getting used to being able to say no and getting away with it, and no ones able to make them accountable for it. Now, I'm going to hold them accountable.SA国际影视传媒�
