Skipthedishes enters liquor delivery market

Food delivery service Skipthedishes can now bring Calgary customers more than takeout.

The Winnipeg-based company announced it will start alcohol delivery in Calgary, Edmonton and Fort Mcmurray starting this week.

In an email, a company spokesperson said certain Skipthedishes drivers who have met certain requirements will be able to do liquor deliveries.

“The experience of ordering alcohol is just like ordering food on Skip,” said a statement from the company. “Customers input their delivery address, search or filter for what they’re looking for, and browse available vendors in their area.”

Skipthedishes drivers — who operate as independent contractors — must have completed the AGLC’S Proserve certification training, and must also complete an “alcohol delivery onboarding process” through Skipthedishes to do those deliveries.

Skipthedishes has been delivering alcohol in B.C. and Manitoba since 2017.

AGLC spokeswoman Heather Holmen said there are several businesses in Calgary that have been licensed to do liquor delivery for “many years.”

“AGLC looked at our policies to find ways to allow for these types of businesses to operate a liquor delivery service, but there were certain parameters that had to be met,” she said.

She said having Proserve certification is one part of that. Another is checking IDS of customers who look to be under the age of 25. Also, drivers must not provide liquor to customers who already appear intoxicated.

Holmen said while alcohol delivery is allowed, there is no legal retail delivery service for cannabis allowed in Alberta under the current legislation.

“There are some apps out there that do promote themselves as doing it, but it would be illegally,” she said.