Interesting post. But that isn’t the way you purchase beer in British Columbia. You can buy Beer in a private liquor store (they’re usually more expensive than government stores, but the prices vary), or a private beer/wine store (again, more expensive than government stores but the prices vary) or at a pub that has “off sales” which is the same as the off-licence in Ireland (usually the most expensive option, since they’re often the choice of last resort), or the government owned liquor store (which are cheapest, but oddly don’t sell cold beer … though they’re still much more expensive than in Quebec, for instance). In each of these cases no one goes and retrieves beer for you, it’s clearly displayed on the shelves and you get it yourself. Though of course the Liquor Control Board of BC still controls the distribution, so beer and wine, let alone spirits, are prohibited from being sold outside of those establishments (and of course licensed restaurants, pubs and clubs).