SAQ tightens its return and exchange policy to curb revenue losses and limit fraud
Posted July 16, 2025 10:57 am.
Quebecers will no longer be able to return alcohol to the SAQ without a receipt, even though its stores are the only place where the sale of certain alcohol products is permitted in the province.
It means you can no longer exchange a bottle received as a gift without proof of purchase.
It still is possible to return a defective product without a receipt, but now the SAQ is specifying that certain wines won’t be exchanged or refunded since they have oxidative properties. Natural wines often have a cloudy or sedimentary appearance by nature.
The Crown corporation is also significantly reducing the time frame for exchanges — going down from 90 days to 30 days.
They say the changes are set to curb revenue losses and limit fraud and took effect on Tuesday.
The LCBO, the SAQ’s Ontario counterpart, made similar changes last year for the same reasons.
