P.E.I. is planning an expansion of private liquor sales in the province. (CBC)

Alcohol-related deaths from such things as liver disease and car accidents, increased substantially after private liquor stores were introduced in British Columbia says a report from that province.

The report from the Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia raises concerns as P.E.I. moves forward with plans to open five new privately-operated stores in the province.

"The reality is, the evidence from all over the world, that availability -- physical ease of access and price -- are the things that most determine how much drinking goes on and then how much harm flows from that across the population," said report co-author Tim Stockwell.

Stockwell's research also showed privately-run stores are less stringent with enforcement.

The B.C. government has also found that since expanding private sales. In 2009, its mystery shopper program found 56 per cent of government-run stores checked for identification, but only 22 per cent of privately-run stores.

The will be keeping a close eye on age enforcement at private liquor stores, says Rob Henderson, minister responsible for the liquor commission. (CBC)

Rob Henderson, the minister responsible for liquor stores on P.E.I., said government will be keeping a close eye on the privately-run operations.

"We may put a few more restrictions to those rules that are out there currently to try to keep a better control on the dispensing of alcohol at agency store locations."

Henderson says the first of the new privately-run liquor store will be in Cavendish. The location has been selected, but Henderson won't say where it's going until the unsuccessful bidders are notified.