NB Liquor stores open for cash transactions only after 'potential cyber threat'

NB Liquor (ANBL) stores are open for cash transactions only following a "potential cyber threat."

Early Wednesday afternoon ANBL said all its corporate liquor stores province-wide were closed until further notice due to a technical issue with its point-of-sale system.

In a statement, ANBL CEO Lori Stickles said their security controls detected "some anomalies" in their system late Tuesday.

"We immediately engaged our external expert partners and began investigating a potential cyber threat," Stickles said. "As a preventative measure while the investigation progressed we made a decision to take down our systems. Our systems will remain down until we have confirmed that there is no further threat, and we are working as quickly as possible to restore full service at our stores." 

Cash will be accepted at ANBL stores, but they are unable to accept credit or debit payments.

Customers can still pick up alcohol from agency and grocery stores as they have not been impacted by the issue.

NB Cannabis stores have also been impacted but remain open on a cash-only basis.

ANBL is responsible for the purchase, importation, distribution and retailing of all alcoholic beverages in New Brunswick.

For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.