Société des alcools du Québec
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| Type | Government-owned corporation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1921 |
| Headquarters | Montreal, Quebec |
| Key people | Philippe Duval, CEO |
| Products | Liquor sales to consumers and businesses |
| Revenue | 2.66 billion CDN (2011) |
| Employees | More than 7500, as of 2011 |
| Website | www.saq.com |
The Société des alcools du Québec (English: Québec Alcohol Corporation), often abbreviated and referred to as SAQ, is a provincial Crown corporation in Quebec.
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[edit] Organization
The Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) is a government-owned corporation responsible for the trade of alcoholic beverages within the province of Quebec.
The Act respecting the Société des alcools du Québec (R.S.Q. S-13)[1] is the official piece of legislation governing the SAQ's operations and management. The sole share-holder is the Minister of Finance of the Quebec government.
The Société des alcools du Québec headquarters are located in Montreal.
The symbol of the SAQ represents 3 aspects of SAQ stores:
- The white letter "Q" represents the province of Quebec
- The red wine glass
- The image of a store front
The SAQ operates under six different banners throughout the province of Quebec:
- SAQ (Classique): varied selection, in towns and villages where there is only one SAQ branch
- SAQ Express: top-selling products, in large urban centres, extended business hours
- SAQ Sélection: extended selection, professional service and counselling
- SAQ Signature: high-end products, 2 exclusive stores (Montreal and Quebec City)
- SAQ Dépôt: warehouse-style stores, wholesale packages
- SAQ.com: Webstore
A selection of wines and low-alcoholic-content beverages are also available in supermarkets.
[edit] Presidents-general managers
- Georges-A. Simard (CLQ)
- L.-B. Cordeau (CLQ)
- Arthur Savoie (CLQ)
- J.-Édouard Tellier (CLQ)
- Édouard Archambault (CLQ)
- Lorne G. Power (RAQ)
- Roger Laverdure (RAQ)
- Jacques Desmeules (1971–1978)
- Daniel Wermelinger (1978–1983)
- Jean-Guy Lord (1983–1986)
- Jocelyn Tremblay (1986–1997)
- Gaétan Frigon (1998–2002)
- Louis L. Rocquet (2003–2004)
- Sylvain Toutant (2004–2007)
- Philippe Duval (2008-)
[edit] Alcohol consumption in Quebec
As the provider of alcohol in Quebec, the SAQ's market data gives a quick overview of alcohol consumption in the province. In its 2009-2010 annual report,[2] the Corporation confirms 77.9% of sales through the SAQ stores and grocery stores alone were table wines. The remainder is shared among various products: 14.8% were spirits, 5.4% coolers, 1.5% beers and 0.4% ciders and other products.
The report also includes Statistics Canada data comparing alcohol consumption in Canada. Quebec falls in first place in wine consumption (21.4 litres per person per year) and in third place in beer consumption (94.5 litres). On the flip side, Quebec is last (12th) in spirits consumption (with 4.1 liters on average).
[edit] Legal drinking age
The legal drinking age is 18 in Quebec[3] and there are restrictions as to who can purchase alcoholic beverages (R.S.Q. I-8.1).[4] The legal age for the purchase of alcoholic beverages is 18 years. By law, SAQ stores cannot sell alcohol to minors or adults intent on distributing to minors (including the holders of parental authority). Nonetheless, underage persons are not restricted from SAQ stores. Official policy is to ask for photo identification from any customer who looks under 25.
[edit] History
The Société des alcools du Québec was created in 1921 under the name Commission des liqueurs du Québec. In 1961, it became the Régie des alcools du Québec and, in 1971, the Société des alcools du Québec.
In 1921, an Alcoholic Beverages Act was passed and the Commission des liqueurs du Québec was established to conduct the trade of beer, wine and cider, and eventually spirits too. This state-owned corporation would then on exercise a legal monopoly on all distribution of alcohol in Quebec.[5] In its first year, the commission establishes a quality control laboratory, opens 64 stores selling 383 products, employs 415 people and grosses $15 million in sales.[6]
[edit] See also
- Pied-du-Courant Prison - former prison which houses offices of the SAQ
- LCBO - The province of Ontario's crown corporation equivalent
- Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission
[edit] References
- ^ "Société des alcools du Québec, An Act respecting". CanLII. http://www.canlii.org/qc/laws/sta/s-13/20050211/whole.html. Retrieved 2006-06-04.
- ^ 2009-2010 SAQ Annual Report
- ^ "Legal Drinking Age by Province in Canada" (asp). Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse. 2008-10-30. http://www.ccsa.ca/eng/topics/legislation/LegalDrinkingAge/Pages/default.aspx. Retrieved 2010-06-20.
- ^ "Offences relating to alcoholic beverages, An Act respecting". CanLII. http://www.canlii.org/qc/laws/sta/i-8.1/20040323/whole.html. Retrieved 2006-06-04.
- ^ SAQ. "Nearly 90 Years… With Pleasure", on the site SAQ.com, retrieved June 11, 2010
- ^ "Milestones in Alcohol Policy"
[edit] External links
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