The province handed the battered restaurant industry another lifeline Friday, making a temporary measure to sell and deliver sealed liquor with meals a permanent one.
It’s the second time in less than a month that the provincial government has loosened liquor rules indefinitely to help a food and beverage sector struggling during the pandemic.
In February, it announced restaurants, bars and tourism operators with liquor licences would be able to purchase beer, wine and spirits at wholesale prices permanently.
The latest measure allows liquor-primary and food-primary licensees to sell and deliver sealed, packaged liquor products with the purchase of a meal for off-site consumption on a permanent basis.
That’s good news for an industry struggling to recover amid strict pandemic protoc0ls that have seen establishments give up half their traditional seats and pivot to takeout.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, we’ve had to make huge adjustments to our businesses, shifting to a takeout- and delivery-focused business model to ensure we could continue to operate under the provincial health officer’s guidelines,” said Ian Tostenson, president and chief executive of the B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices Association.
“The temporary change initially helped us generate sales through a new revenue stream, but making it permanent will give us continued relief from the financial hardship of the pandemic as we move into recovery.”
Solicitor General Mike Farnworth said the permanent authorization will provide about 8,000 businesses “long-term financial support and certainty, and will aid in the hospitality industry’s recovery.”
Food and liquor-primary licensees such as restaurants and pubs were originally authorized to sell liquor only for consumption in their establishments unless they had a special endorsement on their licence.
But last March, as the pandemic took hold, the government enacted emergency recommendations from an advisory panel consisting of representatives from the liquor and hospitality industry that allowed the sale and delivery of packaged liquor products for off-site consumption. Since then, Farnworth has extended the temporary authorization three times in response to requests from licensees, industry and the public.
Existing safeguards for safe delivery, such as identity verification, will continue to be in place. Individuals who deliver liquor products on behalf of licensees are required to be certified with Serving It Right.
