The official legislation governing the SAQ's operations and management is the Act respecting the Société des alcools du Québec (R.S.Q.

The opening hours of most SAQ stores are dictated by the provincial law, which forbids sales of all alcohol before 9 AM and after 11 PM.

There are however SAQ Express outlets which carry a smaller range of products are open from 11 AM to 10 PM daily.

[citation needed] In late 2017, some eight months before the expected legalisation of marijuana for recreational use across the country, the Province was planning to have the SAQ manage the sale of the product.

Initially, 20 stores would be opened; on-line sales would also be offered, with deliveries to customers made by Canada Post.

In 1921, an Alcoholic Beverages Act was passed and the Quebec Liquor Commission was established to conduct the trade of beer, wine and cider, and eventually spirits too.

[10] In its first year, the commission establishes a quality control laboratory, opens 64 stores selling 383 products, employs 415 people and grosses $15 million in sales.

[14] In fear of splitting the country on a sharp divide between Catholic French and Protestant English Canada, then Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier decided not to act upon the vote results.

The Régie des alcools du Québec (RAQ) was created in 1961 in order to promote business growth, which opened its first self-service branch soon afterward.

[17] Based on the recommendations of the Thinel Commission in 1971, the Société des Alcools du Québec was founded in order to be in charge of sales.