British Columbia’s Tourism industry and local liquor producers stand to benefit from changes to provincial liquor laws, according to B.C. Premier Christy Clark.
Clark announced her support of 12 of parliamentary secretary John Yap’s recommendations at a family-run estate winery in Kelowna on Wednesday.
The announcement deals primarily with licensing and sampling in connection with B.C.’s tourism industry. The changes are expected to roll out next spring.
“We all know that our liquor regulations are antiquated. They are out of date, and they have been that way for a very long time,” Clark said.
Regulations will be modified to allow manufacturers to sample and sell liquor at venues like festivals, farmers’ markets and off-site tasting rooms, Clark said.
Additionally, manufacturers will be allowed to expand on-site tasting venues and offer liquor not produced on-site, including local beer, wine and local spirits.
Plans were announced to streamline the licensing application process for tourist destinations such as ski hills and golf courses, allowing them to extend their liquor licenses to patios and ski hill villages.
At the same time, a new quality assurance program for craft brewers and distillers, similar to the existing Vintner’s Quality Assurance, was also announced.
“These are all things that we heard from people across the province as we conducted what turned out to be the biggest consultation we’ve ever done,” Clark said.
With regards to Yap’s recommendation to sell liquor in grocery stores, Clark said she was “concerned about the public safety aspect of that.”
But in Yap’s public consultations with more than 80,000 people, 80% wanted greater convenience, Clark said. “We have to answer the public’s call for convenience. We’re trying to find a way to do that.”
Private liquor store owners have expressed concern that selling liquor in grocery stores will force them out of business.
“Naturally, lots of people are a little bit alarmed about the possibility of change. But change is coming,” Clark said. “When they see the final proposal, I think you’ll find that many of those people have changed their minds.”
Yap’s full report is expected to be released in the new year after the Cabinet has reviewed his 70-plus recommendations.
