Booze buying costlier in N.L. than most provinces

This week's price hike by the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation will help reduce the provincial deficit, but it means you pay more for beer, wineand spirits than most Canadians.

• NLC poised to hike liquor prices this weekend

The NLC raised its prices on Sunday by an average of three per cent.

"This year the price increase will look to deliver in the vicinity of $11-million," said Greg Gill, the NLC'sdirector of marketing and communications.

"We're looking to increase our dividend to government by close to $20-million so that will also come by way of reducing costs."

Crunching the numbers

A comparison done by CBC News shows that what Newfoundlanders and Labradorianspayfor alcohol is in some cases substantially more than the rest of the country.

The price comparison does not includeAlberta where alcohol is sold through private retailers so prices aren't consistent, orQuebec where beer and wine aresold in corner stores,not just by the province's crown liquor corporation.

The numbers show, for example, that a bottle ofLambs Palm Breeze Rumone of the NLC's biggest sellers costs $27.99 for a 750 ml bottle here, compared with $24.49 in Manitoba.

The British Columbiaprice does not include taxes and bottle deposits.

A dozen Labatt Blue will set you back $25.75, only 75 cents more than in other Atlantic provinces, but a lot more than the$19.75 price in Ontario.

If you enjoy a glass of red wine, you will shell out $14.38 for a bottle of Lindeman's Bin 50 Shiraz. That's just a little over the PEI price of $13.99 but a lot more than the $11.95charged in Ontario.

Even Screech rum which is blended and bottled in this provinceisn't cheaper here. B.C. and Ontario sell it for less.

We did find one bargain. Abottle of Glenlivet 12-year-old scotch is cheaper in this province than anywhere else in the country.

Small population, less buying power

Greg Gill said prices are generally more expensive herepartly because of taxes. He said larger provinces also have more buying power.

"They can negotiate better prices, so in essence with a smaller population and the geography where we are, it is often more expensive to deliver products to market," he said.

Gill said the NLC doesn't closely monitorprices in the rest of the country.

"We look at our cost to do business and our revenue targets," he said.

Meanwhile, anotherprice increase could be just around the corner.

The province has said that everything is on the table for its deficit-fightingbudget due later this month.