The St. Hubert restaurant chain is lobbying the Quebec government for new rules on alcohol.

The family-style restaurant sells wine, beer and hard liquor in-house, but wants customers to be able to bring their own bottles as well.

The chain believes it could increase overall sales if people brought their own booze, and then opted to purchase more beer or wine as they desire.

“When you go to a restaurant, to buy a bottle of wine, is not cheap. It costs a lot of money,” said Jean-Pierre Leger, chairman of the restaurant, who added allowing people to bring their own alcohol will help the middle class.

Last year was not a good one for Quebec restaurants – while nationally restaurant sales grew by more than three per cent, here, they actually fell by more than two per cent. It seems like for Quebecers, going out to dinner is becoming a luxury.

Dominique Tremblay says Quebec's Restaurant Association opposes the idea because most restaurants in Quebec rely on alcohol sales to stay in the black.

"You don't want customers to bring their own bottle. You lose the profit margin you can have on alcohol, and for the majority of restaurants that sell alcohol, it's where they make profit. Not on food anymore, it's on alcohol," said Tremblay.

"We respect the opinion of St. Hubert, they are a big player in the industry, but I think their opinion doesn't reflect the opinion of the majority of our members."

The restaurant association (ARQ) has been lobbying the provincial government for 15 years to update laws regarding alcohol in restaurants, and would prefer abolishing the special seals on bottles and other restrictions placed on restaurant sales.

Even though anyone could apply to have a so-called mixed-alcohol permit, the owner of Buonanotte said they would lose big and so might clients.

“I guess everyone is going to have to start paying more for their food, the profits we were relying on for alcohol is going to be annulled, “said Massimo Lecas.

He said he worries there would be a lot of pressure on them to change their business.

“My competition is going to say ‘You come you can come to me, Buonanotte doesn't want you in with your alcohol, oh come to me,’” he said.

St. Hubert has petitioned the Regie des alcools and hopes to receive an answer in several weeks.