ALBERTA/630 CHED - Albertans are facing a series of liquor price increases as retailers prepare for a major hike in costs by the firm contracted by the province to handle all liquor deliveries. Connect Logistics will boost its rates one week ahead of the final report from a government review of deliveries, which have been the subject of numerous complaints.

Connect says a backlog of deliveries has been cleared and liquor should be arriving at stores on time. But a retailers group says the situtation is still grim for many stores with barren shelves.