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Starting Friday, eligible small beer brewers are now able to apply for a reduced markup from Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC), a move that could cut the fee one brewer pays the provincial government to sell its booze by almost 50 per cent.

“It’s small, but obviously has a big impact. It is a success in that there is predictability — and it stayed the same for the bulk of our membership,” said Mike McNeil, executive director of the Alberta Small Brewers Association.

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The change solved an “urgent” issue for Calgary-based Big Rock Brewery, which was being assessed at the same rate as much larger beer manufacturers, McNeil said.

After the province announced the change, a press release from Big Rock said that the company anticipated it would significantly reduce the corporation’s overall beer tax.

Big Rock can now take advantage of reduced markup rates along with every other brewer that produces less than 400,000 hectolitres per year.