Here’s why the SAQ is putting some American alcohol products back on its shelves

The Quebec liquor board (SAQ) is selling about to expire American alcohol at a discount.

Nearly one year after the Quebec liquor control board yanked American alcohol from its store shelves, the Crown corporation is putting the bottles back before they expire and donating the proceeds of sales to food banks.

On March 4, 2025, amid a bitter tariff war with Canada started by U.S. President Donald Trump that continues to drag on, the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) pulled U.S. liquor from all of its stores.

The SAQ said Thursday that since some of those products “whose quality could begin declining as of March 2027,” it will allow them to be sold to consumers starting Feb. 12 in stores and on SAQ.com. A 15 per cent discount will also be applied, including as SAQ Dépôt.

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In a press release, the SAQ said it would transfer the equivalent of the cost of the products sold during the sales period to the Food Banks of Quebec (FBQ), which could reach up to $8.6 million.

Finance Minister Eric Giard said he authorized the “exceptional measure,” stating that the ban on American liquor that doesn’t meet the criteria will continue to be enforced.

“This initiative, which is outside the usual framework, allows us to diversify our efforts to support Quebecers,” Girard said on social media.