Yesterday the province introduced legislation to allow caterers to obtain a liquor licence.
The government said this expansion of services would make it easier for clients of caterers to have liquor service at catered events, not only supporting the industry, but also strengthening B.C.’s tourism appeal.
The change would also create a licensing framework allowing dedicated catering businesses and licensed establishments – such as restaurants, hotels and conference centres – to provide liquor at catered events held at offsite locations.
Currently, people hosting an event serving liquor in B.C. need to get a special occasion licence, take the Serving-it-Right course, purchase and transport the liquor and accept liability for liquor service at the event. Catering companies cannot handle these responsibilities on behalf of their clients.
Rich Coleman, the minister responsible for the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch, said, “This change just makes sense. It will give catering companies the ability to better serve their clients, boost tourism opportunities and support job creation in the hospitality sector.”
Business in Vancouver has been closely following this story since Coleman looked into the possibility of licensed catering more than a year ago. (See “Coleman investigates allowing caterers to deliver booze” – February 8, 2011.)
See next week’s issue of BIV for a closer look at how this change will affect the hospitality industry.
