Starting on Feb. 12, the Quebec government will authorize the province’s liquor board to restock some U.S. products whose quality might start declining as of March 2027.
Eric Girard, the minister responsible for the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ), made the announcement Thursday afternoon.
He said the Crown corporation will donate proceeds from the sale of the products to Food Banks of Quebec.
“This initiative, which falls outside the usual framework, allows us to diversify our efforts to support Quebecers,” Girard said, noting that it is an “exceptonal measure.”
In a statement published Thursday evening, the SAQ said it would transfer to the food banks an “amount equivalent to the cost of the products sold during the sales period” — which could total up to $8.6 million.
Girard said the ban on selling products that don’t meet government standards and the ban on importing American products — issued on March 4, 2025 — remain in effect.
Most of the products returning to shelves are bottles with clear glass, including alcoholic creams and liqueurs. Those products will be sold at select SAQ Dépôt locations and online.
A 15 per cent discount will apply to all the products, the Crown corporation said. Those sold at SAQ Dépôt stores will also qualify for the discount usually offered by the banner.
