WINERY WAITING FOR SUPREME COURT DECISION
By Adnews Staff
Vancouver-based Mark Anthony Group is awaiting a decision from the British Columbia Supreme Court that would allow it to sell Mike's Hard Lemonade in the Pacific province. Authorities at the B.C. Liquor Control & Licensing Branch banned the alcoholic lemonade because they feel the name could mislead kids into drinking it without realizing it is booze, despite a warning on the label that says the product contains 6.9% alcohol. In Supreme Court the lawyers argued over which government branch has authority over liquor packaging. The B.C. Liquor Control & Licensing Branch says it does, but the Liquor Distribution Branch also claims jurisdiction. The Supreme Court will rule on who has the final say on packaging. The Liquor Distribution Branch has already approved the packaging, so if the judge says this week that the distribution branch has jurisdiction Mark Anthony will begin distributing the liquor next week. Mike's Hard Lemonade hit liquor retail outlets in Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta earlier this month and encountered no problems with the packaging. The company expects to sell over a million cases in B.C. this summer - if it can get the product on the shelves. The product is made by a Mark Anthony subsidiary, Mission Hill Winery in Kelowna, B.C.