The Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) is Quebec’s public alcohol retailer. It sells beverage alcohol through its own stores and specialized centres, and it wholesales products to grocery and convenience stores. The SAQ says its mission is to sell alcohol responsibly throughout Quebec and to generate revenue for public services.
What the SAQ does
The SAQ describes its role as controlling alcohol sales in the public interest. It says the aim is to sell alcohol consistently and responsibly—not to promote or increase consumption. That is the organization’s description of its public model, rather than an independent interpretation of the law. SAQ: Our mission and SAQ: Public model.
Its activities serve two different audiences:
- Direct retail: Consumers buy from SAQ stores and specialized centres.
- Wholesale: The SAQ supplies grocery and convenience stores. Wholesale figures describe sales to those retailers, not necessarily the quantities they later sell to consumers.
SAQ: Our network describes its retail and wholesale channels.
How the SAQ’s revenue reaches government
The SAQ says it remits all the revenue it generates to government to help fund public services. Its reported results distinguish the organization’s net income and dividend from combined revenues payable to Quebec and the federal government.
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| Fiscal 2025–2026 figure | What it means |
|---|---|
| $4.070 billion in sales | Overall sales reported by the SAQ for fiscal 2025–2026. |
| $1.389 billion in net income | The SAQ said a dividend equal to its entire net income would be remitted to the Quebec government. |
| $2.608 billion in combined government revenues | $2.110 billion payable to Quebec’s treasury and $497.6 million destined for the federal government. |
| 209.8 million litres in volume sales | Total volume reported for the fiscal year. |
These figures are for the fiscal year ended March 28, 2026, and were announced by the SAQ on June 9, 2026. Dollar sales increased slightly year over year, while volume sales fell 3%; higher sales dollars therefore do not mean more alcohol was sold by volume. SAQ: Annual reports and results.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the SAQ’s role matters
The SAQ combines retailing with a public-revenue role. Its president and CEO, Jacques Farcy, summarized the organization’s stated position in a May 8, 2026 statement: “The SAQ’s role is clear: to sell alcohol responsibly and generate tangible benefits for Quebec.” SAQ: Public model.
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