Société des alcools du Québec
1577068
224949407
2008-07-11T03:50:17Z
205.236.16.172
{{Infobox_Company |
company_name = Société des alcools du Québec|
company_logo = [[Image:saq.png]]|
company_type = [[Crown corporation]] |
company_slogan = ''none'' |
foundation = [[1921]]|
location = [[Montreal]], [[Quebec]]|
key_people = [[Philippe Duval]], [[President]] & [[CEO]] |
industry = [[Retailer|Retail (Department & Discount)]]|
num_employees = 3800, as of [[2005]] |
products = Liquor sales to both to consumers and to businesses|
revenue = 2.4 billion [[Canadian dollar|CDN]] ([[2005]])|
homepage = [http://www.saq.com SAQ site] (webstore)
}}
[[Image:Saq liquor store2.jpg|right|250px|thumb|SAQ Express branches sell only the most popular products and are located on major commercial arteries in large cities such as pictured here in Montreal.]]
The '''Société des alcools du Québec''' ([[English language|English]]: ''Quebec Alcohol Corporation''), often abbreviated and referred to as '''SAQ''', is a provincial [[Crown corporation]] in the [[Canada|Canadian]] province of [[Quebec]].
==Organization==
The SAQ holds a [[monopoly]] over distribution of [[alcoholic beverages]] in Quebec. It acts as a wholesaler for [[wine]] and other low-alcohol-content beverages, which can be sold outside SAQ branches, usually in ''[[dépanneur]]s'' and [[supermarket|grocery stores]]. [[Distilled beverage|Spirits]] and [[apéritif]]s can only be sold in SAQ stores.
The ''Act respecting the Société des alcools du Québec'' (R.S.Q. S-13)<ref name="saq_act">
{{cite web
| url =http://www.canlii.org/qc/laws/sta/s-13/20050211/whole.html
| title =Société des alcools du Québec, An Act respecting
| format =HTML
| publisher=CanLII
| accessdate =2006-06-04
}}</ref> is the official piece of legislation governing the SAQ's operations and management. The sole share-holder is [[Monarchy in Quebec|Her Majesty in Right of Quebec]], representative of the Quebec state, to which approximately 500 million [[Canadian dollar|CAD]] in [[dividend]]s are distributed each year.
The ''Société des alcools du Québec'' headquarters is located in [[Montreal]] and had sales of $2.4 billion in [[2005]].
===Banners===
The SAQ operates under five different banners throughout the province of Quebec:
* ''SAQ Classique'': varied selection, in towns and villages where there is only one SAQ branch
* ''SAQ'' Express: top-selling products, in large urban centres, extended business hours
* ''SAQ Sélection'': extended selection, professional service and counselling
* ''SAQ'' Signature: two exclusive stores in [[Montreal]] and [[Quebec City]]
* ''SAQ Dépôt'': warehouse-style stores, bottle-it-yourself, wholesale packages
The corporation also distributes its products through a [[webstore]]. A selection of wines and low-alcoholic-content beverages are also available in [[supermarkets]].
==Alcohol consumption in Quebec==
{{details|Alcoholic beverages in Canada}}
As the provider of alcohol in Quebec, the SAQ's market data gives a quick overview of alcohol consumption in the province. In its [[2005]] annual report<ref name="consumption">
{{cite web
| url =http://www.saq.com/pls/devsaq/generator.pp_afficher_page?P_iden_tran=25059826&P_modi_url=0604093413&P_nom_page=info_saq_rapp_annu.saq&P_tab_para=VIDE!VIDE#DIRECTION
| title =Annual Report
| format =PDF
| publisher=SAQ
| accessdate =2006-06-04
}}</ref>, the Corporation confirms 66.3% of sales were [[wine|table wines]]. The remainder is shared among various products: 15.7% were [[Distilled beverage|spirits]], 8.9% refreshing beverages (such as [[wine cooler|coolers]] and [[sangría]]), 5.4% special occasion beverages (includes [[Champagne (wine)|champagne]], [[rosé wine]] and [[port wine|Port]]) and 2.9% [[apéritif]]s (such as [[vermouth]] and [[Pastis]]). Note that [[beer]] does not appear within this data as most beer sales are outside the SAQ's monopoly.
The report also includes [[Statistics Canada]] data comparing alcohol consumption in Canada. Quebec falls in second place in both wine (17.4 litres per person per year) and beer (93.9 litres) consumption, behind the [[Yukon|Yukon territory]]. On the flip side, Quebec is last (12th) in spirits consumption (with 4.1 liters on average).
===Legal drinking age===
The [[legal drinking age]] is 18 in Quebec<ref>[http://www.ccsa.ca/CCSA/EN/Topics/Legislation/LegalDrinkingAgeByProvCan.htm CCSA - Legal Drinking Age by Province, in Canada<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and there are restrictions as to who can purchase alcoholic beverages (R.S.Q. I-8.1)<ref name="age_act">
{{cite web
| url =http://www.canlii.org/qc/laws/sta/i-8.1/20040323/whole.html
| title =Offenses relating to alcoholic beverages, An Act respecting
| format =HTML
| publisher=CanLII
| accessdate =2006-06-04
}}</ref>. The legal age for the purchase of alcoholic beverages is 18 years. By law, SAQ stores cannot sell alcohol to minors or adults intent on distributing to minors (including the holders of parental authority). Nonetheless, underage persons are not restricted from SAQ stores. Official policy is to ask for photo identification to any customer who looks under 25.
==Holiday-season strike of 2004==
<!--[[Image:Saq_liquor_store1.jpg|left|150px|thumb|This advertisement panel indicates that an SAQ store is nearby.]]-->
On [[19 November]] [[2004]], the Corporation's 3800 employees went on strike<ref name="strike">
{{cite web
| url =http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/Index/nouvelles/200411/19/009-SAQ-vendredi-update.shtml
| title =La SAQ en grève générale illimitée
| format =HTML
| publisher=Société Radio-Canada
| accessdate =2006-06-04
}}</ref>. They were protesting because their contract had expired two years prior and negotiations on its renewal weren't making any progress. Trade unions were concerned by the work schedules, the status of part-time and temporary employees and the spectre of privatization.
In the first month or so the strike went mostly unnoticed but as the holiday season kept approaching, many Quebecers wished the unions would strike a deal with SAQ executives. In fact they did not and the strike went on until [[11 February]] [[2005]]. On that day SAQ stores reopened their doors after the employees voted in favour of the union-negotiated deal. The new contract included pay increases and the creation of 250 new full-time jobs<ref name="back_to_work">
{{cite web
| url =http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/Index/nouvelles/200502/11/002-saq-ouverture.shtml
| title =La SAQ rouvre ses magasins
| format =HTML
| publisher=Société Radio-Canada
| accessdate =2006-06-04
}}</ref>.
==Price-fixing scandal==
In January [[2006]], SAQ [[President]] & [[CEO]] [[Sylvain Toutant]] admitted the corporation had asked [[Europe]]an suppliers to increase their prices in order to avoid a drop in revenues<ref name="price_fixing">
{{cite web
| url =http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/story.html?id=0b2a8099-11d8-42c7-8f8c-283584c4d2c1&k=8578
| title =SAQ admits price-fixing scheme
| format =HTML
| publisher=The Montreal Gazette
| accessdate =2006-06-04
}}</ref>. This was concomitant with the falling value of the [[Euro]] in relation to the [[Canadian dollar]]. A drop in wholesale prices would have mandated lower retail prices. Both vice-presidents involved in the affair left the SAQ soon thereafter. The scandal ensued public outcry and renewed calls for the [[privatization]] of the crown corporation. The Minister of Finance, [[Michel Audet]], rejected calls for privatization but agreed to launch an investigation into the SAQ's commercial practices and the behaviour of its board members.
==Selection==
There is a noticeable difference in the selection of products available at SAQ stores compared to other provincial liquor monopolies. Difference between provincial liquor monopolies selection are expected since the market is different from one province to the other.
==See also==
*[[Pied-du-Courant Prison]] - former prison which houses offices of the SAQ
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.saq.com Official SAQ website]
{{Canada alcohol}}
[[Category:Alcohol monopolies]]
[[Category:Retail companies of Canada]]
[[Category:Canadian provincial alcohol departments and agencies]]
[[Category:Crown corporations of Quebec]]
[[Category:Companies based in Montreal]]
[[fr:Société des alcools du Québec]]