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You may soon need to be vaccinated to buy liquor or cannabis in Quebec

Jan. 05, 2022
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3 min read
Covid-19 Testing Sites As Montreal Declares State Of Emergency
You may soon need to be vaccinated to buy liquor or cannabis in Quebec
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Thus far, COVID-19 vaccination requirements have applied to broad public access, from indoor public spaces to international flights and public transit. Enter Quebec, Canada, where local officials are considering requiring vaccine passports to buy liquor and cannabis, local news outlets have reported.

Although the Quebec government has not yet officially confirmed the proposed measure, more details are expected to be released this week regarding the addition of certain alcohol and cannabis businesses to the province's existing COVID-19 protocols in the wake of the omicron variant. The City of Montreal declared a local state of emergency in late December due to rising COVID-19 case numbers.

A vaccination passport has been required since September 2021 for all those age 13 and older to access all non-essential businesses throughout Quebec, including bars, restaurants, there's, casinos, places of worship and sports facilities.

(Screenshot provided by the Quebec government)

But the vaccine passport requirement could soon be applied to those wishing to buy alcohol at Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) or cannabis products at the Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC).

For reference, SAQ is the only liquor distributor in Quebec, with more than 400 stores, and SQDC is the only non-medical legal seller of cannabis in Quebec.

"SAQ has discussed the issue with the government," Linda Bouchard, a spokesperson for SAQ said via email. "If the authorities move in this direction, we will apply this measure."

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Related: Canada urges citizens to avoid all nonessential international travel, just days before Christmas

Last week, the prime minister of Quebec temporarily closed indoor dining, in addition to announcing a 10 p.m. curfew and limiting private indoor gatherings to those within the same household. Non-essential businesses are closed on Sunday and indoor sports are suspended.

"The contagion is destabilizing our society," Quebec prime minister François Legault said in a statement on Dec. 30. "We simply cannot continue in this way. We must make a major change of direction to slow the contagion and do everything to restrict transmission."

Fully vaccinated travelers from the U.S. are currently able to visit Canada, including for tourism. All travelers must provide results of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure to Canada.

Related: Canada entry restrictions will remain in place through Nov. 21

Featured image by Bloomberg via Getty Images
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.