Alberta raises minimum drink prices at bars for first time since 2008
AGLC rules effective June 9 set a 20-ounce pint at minimum $5, up from $3.20, and canned beer at $4, up from $2.75, citing commitment to reducing alcohol-related harms.
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A pint of beer at Calgary bars just got more expensive. The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission raised minimum prices for alcoholic drinks for the first time since 2008, effective immediately after announcing the changes on June 9.
Draft beer now must cost at least $0.25 per ounce, up from $0.16 per ounce — meaning a 20-ounce pint must now cost a minimum of $5, up from the previous $3.20. Bottled or canned beers, ciders, coolers, spirits, and liqueurs increased from a minimum of $2.75 per can or bottle to $4.
"Following a review of policy, several amendments were made to the liquor licensee handbook to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of licensees and AGLC," an AGLC spokesperson said in a statement.
The commission said the price increase reinforces its commitment to "reducing alcohol-related harms by encouraging moderation and discouraging binge-drinking behaviours." A 2026 brief by the Canadian Centre of Recovery Excellence notes that alcohol-related deaths across Canada increased by 17.6 per cent between 2020 and 2022, with Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan experiencing the highest number of excess alcohol-related deaths and hospitalizations.