Premier Ed Stelmach quashed April’s tax bump on liquor, taking liquor retailers, bar owners and customers by surprise.

Stelmach said he was never comfortable with the April jump in liquor prices when the government markup was boosted by $1.30 for a dozen beer, 75 cents for a bottle of wine and $2.89 for a 750 ml bottle of spirits.

“It was something that I had a hard time agreeing with; it’s been bothering me all that time,” he admitted. “We have to … continue to work to reduce the cost of doing business in this province. That’s the way you build Alberta’s future, and I tell you that Albertans expect confidence and stability in these very, very difficult economic times, and that is my focus,” he said. “So just to close: cold beer, hot day, during very difficult economic times.”

Though the tax hike was to be repealed immediately, retail prices in Calgary have only just begun to reflect the change.

“As inventory that was priced at the higher taxed level is replaced with lower taxed product, Albertans will see prices decrease,” said Julian Koziak, chairman of the Alberta Liquor Industry Roundtable.

The first of its kind since 2002, April’s tax hike led to Albertans paying more for beer than any other province – a complete reversal from 2008, when the province boasted the lowest average price for a 12-pack.

There are no plans to rescind the tobacco tax increases that were also implemented in April.