By James Peters

Red tape reduction could result in cheaper craft beer

May 20, 2016 | 2:42 PM

KAMLOOPS — The next time you buy some locally-brewed beer, less of your purchase price will be going to the government.

The province announced today that the markup is being dropped by 25 per cent.

David Beardsell of Red Collar Brewing in Kamloops says that’s a step in the right direction.

“The markup rate itself is not going to have a huge impact for us. The monetary value is not significant enough to make a huge difference,” explained Beardsell, adding, “Let’s face it, any step forward when it comes to paying taxes, because this basically is a tax, is beneficial.”

Beardsell notes the markup in BC still amounts to about 40 cents per litre, whereas the same rate in Alberta is ten cents per litre.

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“It is better than it was two years ago, and it’s substantially better than it was 15 years ago, so we’re going in the right direction.”

He adds the government has also made a positive move by substantially reducing the red tape local breweries need to cut through in order to submit that markup.

“One of the things this government has done, which has been significant, is that they have reduced the amount of red tape that we have to go through to pay. So right now, every day that we produce beer, we have to pay our markup. Whereas now they’re changing it so it is only once a month, which is going to be a real benefit to us.”

RELATED VIDEO: Red Collar not to benefit greatly from new liquor rules (Aired December 8th, 2015)