Caterers and wedding planners are welcoming the latest change to B.C.'s liquor laws.
Following on the heels of the province's moves to privatize liquor distribution and allow alcohol in movie theatres, the B.C. government announced May 1 that catering companies will soon be allowed to provide liquor at catered events.
Thus far, that responsibility has fallen to event hosts, who have been required to apply for a special-occasion liquor licence, complete the Serving It Right responsible liquor service course, and deliver – or contract a liquor delivery company to deliver – alcohol to an event venue.
Catering companies and event planners are welcoming the government's move.
Genève McNally, principal planner with wedding and event planning company DreamGroup Productions, said it will allow the wedding industry to offer more services to clients.
"It's been hard to explain to a client that 'We will take care of the headache for you, but oh – you have to get a Serving It Right, you need to go to the liquor store, you need to apply for the liquor licence and, oh yeah, you also need to get the liquor to the wedding venue on the day.'"
She added that catering companies will see an added business lift from alcohol markups – but noted that clients can still dodge those markups if they want to.
"It's not like the rule has said clients can no longer obtain their own alcohol; they still can, but now they have the choice to let the caterer take care of it for them."
The Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association has also commended the move as a key boost for caterers.
Vancouver – West End MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert, who has lobbied for the rule change, welcomed the new legislation.
He called the old policy "silly" and "one of those weird outliers of rules.
I'd much rather have a caterer, whose business relies on being a responsible business, be able to bring the alcohol to an event and do the special event licensing, than put it out to people who have never done it before."
Chandra Herbert said that the only group that might get hurt by the changes are private liquor distribution companies.
Steve Broad, owner and general manager of liquor distribution company Liquid Assets Distribution Ltd., said the legislation was more of an opportunity than a threat.
"[The legislation] would open the door to acquire more business from caterers that may not have the time or resources to dedicate to picking up their own liquor orders from the [BC Liquor Distribution Branch]," he wrote in an e-mail. McNally added that the rule change will help fight B.C.'s reputation as a "sleepy city."
"We're the city that's supposed to be a hospitality city and welcoming people from all around the world – and yet we have all of these rules that other major cities across Canada don't have."
According to the government, the rule change will "bring B.C. in line with every other province." •
