More Liquor Rule Changes Coming to B.C.
John Yap, talks about changes to B.C. liquor laws. video Courtesy Send to News
Prince George, B.C.- Saying the Province is going to support all of the 73 recommendations in the liquor policy review, Minister of Justice and Public Safety, Suzanne Anton says there are more changes coming, specifically the B.C. government has announced it is supporting:
· eliminating beer garden fencing,
· simplifying the SOL ( Special Occasion License) process and moving applications online.
· allowing the sale of mixed-spirit drinks at public SOL events and
· enabling hosts to serve UBrew/UVin at events, such as weddings.
· increasing flexibility around licensing, and permitting spirit-based liquor sales in the stands at arenas and stadiums throughout B.C.
· licensing changes will extend room service hours at hotels and allow guests to move more freely with alcoholic beverages.
"These recommendations are a direct reflection of the input I received from British Columbians, festival organizers, non-profit organizations and businesses – both small and large – during the Liquor Policy Review," said John Yap, Parliamentary Secretary for Liquor Policy Reform.
Once legislative changes are made, festival goers will be able to roam the grounds with a pint, rather than being restricted to a cordoned-off beer garden. This will help decrease costs for festival organizers and allow parents with kids to enjoy a beer and remain with their family, as they might at a hockey game. In addition, mixed spirit drinks – rather than only beer, wine, cider and cooler products – will also be permitted at events like music festivals and regattas, with continued restriction of sales to minors.
The Minister says a number of these recommendations require significant policy work and implementation planning, which will be done over the coming months.
Comments
SOL process? I know what SOL means. Has it changed? Ha ha ha .
oh no, this will lead to more drunkenness. Making such a dangerous product more available will only encourage more use. Of course this will lead to an increase in tobacco use as it is so good to have a smoke with your drinks.
Rob ford has always demonstrated that once a person in intoxicated enough, they will try other intoxicants. This would make alcohol a “gateway” product leading to more use of marijuana, cocaine, crack and other recreational drugs.
Let us not forget also that while intoxicated, more people will choose to drink and drive.
go!
“Rob ford has always”
should read
“Rob ford has also”
Just what we need, more access to booze.
Wouldn’t it be handy, on long weekends, go to superstore, pick up groceries and booze than head out to the lake.
Special Occasion Licence – SOL
What you need to have liquor at special events and currently a huge pain in the butt to get. Everytime I’ve had to apply for one I have to bus to the BC liquor store to get the form and fill out out, bus to the rcmp station to get it signed and bus back to the go back to the BCL to submit it. Takes about 3 hours and $7.50 in bus fare when in should take 20 minutes.
What has Access to do with it, the only Control is how much Money is in your Wallet or Account, do you think by moving the Store further away from you will help, I don’t think so, just take a look what People will do to get there Fix on Drugs.
I hate to see a World where Perfect People will Rule us!
Maybe they should hand out a free one, after you vote, at every civic, provincial and federal election polling station.
This might help get the voting numbers up?… just kidding…
Hell, if they did that, I’d vote multiple times!
From a quick read of the recommendations, this looks like a lot of streamlining to assist businesses that sell liquor, but changes that directly affect the public are very limited.
Pretty much everywhere except Canada, beer can be bought by the bottle or by the case in convenience stores and grocery stores. Why not here?
Too many people have too much invested in the status quo. Disappointing. We’re still in the dark ages.
Anyone who has planned a wedding or special event knows how rediculous the current laws are..This is a step in the right drection..
Cheers.!!
In early 1960, on my first weekend pass from the RCAF ‘boot camp’ just south of Montreal, our first stop after we got off the bus was the nearest grocery store, where us guys from BC had learned that we could buy beer.
And now, 53 years later, BC is almost on the verge of catching up. Doesn’t seem to me that being able to buy beer & wine in a grocery store has caused much damage to the citizens of La Belle Province – other than a few whackos that thought they should separate. But that train of thought was probably brought on by something they smoked, not something they poured down their neck.
250 News, please seriously consider putting up a ‘thumbs up or down’ on your site comments, so posters will have a better understanding of what viewers think about their comments. It is easy to do and a recognized process by many sites.
+1 quesnel
I don’t know about anyone else, but my comments on here are simply my comments and sometimes my beliefs, but I don’t need to be validated by anyone on here to make me feel like my comment has merit. That’s a little too schoolyard facebookish to me.
Oh no. Uncle Fester is gonna get his hooch out
Thumbs up or down? What about everyones feelings? I crush easily, ya know.
I’ll drink to Huh’s comment!
Loki…time to travel the world and leave PG to learn that countries all over the world serve alcohol all day, in grocery stores, restaurants, roadside cafes. In the big world outside PG and BC, people are responsible to regulate themselves, they don’t need governments to control them. This is 2014…we no longer live in the dark ages.
Bang on CuriousKat …..
Anyone remember when there were separate entrances for to “taverns” for males and females?
Some probably still think that we have become one silly drunk nation ever since they got rid of those and allowed everyone to use the same entrance door.
That kind of screwed up thinking still persists. Hard to get rid of.
From a government brochure come these words:
âFamily Event: An individual who is a member of the family or a close friend of the family may apply for a SOL for a family event where the guests are family and friends only (not open to the public). These events celebrate an aspect of family life, including, but not limited to: weddings, anniversaries, bar mitzvahs, christenings, wakes, family celebrations of special events such as a wedding or baby shower, birthdays, retirement and family reunions. Family events are always private special occasions.â
So someone has a house during the summer and expects 30 or so people to attend to celebrate an occasion such as Canada Day, or maybe even only 15 or so people. Some are family, some are friends, some are friends of family, and some friends of friends.
Liquor is available. In fact, some bring liquor and food to the event.
I need a license of this because of the liquor? Ridiculous.
How about foodsafe? Ridiculous once again.
You know that we are overregulated when this is what it has gotten to!!
BTW, with 30 people I wonder if one has to show that there are at least two washroom facilities in the house and that they are both accessible for the handicapped.
AND, that there are signs posted in each enclosed space showing the maximum room occupancy. Also signs to indicate which are emergency exits from the house as well as enclosed balconies and yards.
Bang on, gus.
darn, only got one
What you are not seeing is that these are the same arguments used against the repeal of alcohol prohibition. These are the exact arguments against changing the laws on cannabis sativa.
It seems to be more of an emotional argument rather than a logical debate. Everyone has their own opinion(250) based on their life experience. What I don’t understand is why it matters to a non-consumer. If you don’t want to partake, don’t. By the same token, it is not up to you what I put in my body.
It is still Victorian attitudes and prudish behaviors determining our modern ways.
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