VANCOUVER - British Columbians will soon be able to grab a bottle of wine when they're shopping for eggs and broccoli.
The provincial government says the sale of alcohol in grocery stores starting next spring will be part of a store-within-a-store model.
In order to be eligible, 75 per cent of a grocery store's sales must come from food, and it must be a minimum of 930 square metres.
The province says grocery stores can co-brand with liquor stores, regardless of whether the liquor store is actually in the grocery store, and there will be no minimum size requirement.
Big-box stores and convenience stores will not be permitted to sell alcohol.
The changes are part of the government's efforts to modernize liquor laws, and other recent changes include allowing alcohol sales at farmers' markets and permitting bars and pubs to offer happy-hour specials.
