Amid changes to the B.C. liquor laws are concerns about increasing alcohol prices and enforcing the new policies.
B.C. bars and restaurants can now change their prices during the course of a day bringing ‘happy hour’ to the province. But some customers will now pay more due to the new minimum drink pricing. Spirits and wine will cost at least $3 while one pint of beer will be at least $5.
Adam Chatburn, is the president of CAMRA Vancouver, an organization that promotes craft beers in British Columbia.
“I’m fundamentally disappointed in the government for this to be honest,” Chatburn told CTV News. “We were really hoping they would take a much more adult and sensible approach to approaching minimum pricing for happy hour. Unfortunately they’ve decided to jack the price right up,” he said.
Suzanne Anton, B.C.’s attorney general and minister of justice, spoke about the new policies at the Kerrisdale Farmer’s Market Saturday afternoon.
“We’ll keep chipping away at the changes as we overhaul B.C.’s old liquor laws and replace them with new policies that reflect contemporary British Columbia,” Anton said.
Farmers markets in British Columbia can now also sell local beers and wines. Liquor manufacturers will need to apply to the farmer’s markets. Those associations will decide which distilleries, breweries and vintners they will accept subject to municipal bylaws.
Stephanie Smith, president of the British Columbia Government and Service Employees Union, said the BCGEU will need more staff to accommodate the increasing demand for licenses.
“There’s undoubtedly going to be a backlog created in licenses for business,” she said. “To process those licenses we need the additional staffing.”
Smith said the BCGEU raised concerns last year about licensing regulations. Another change is that children are allowed in pubs and legions with adult supervision until 10 p.m. Smith said this contributes to a greater need for enforcement and inspection.
“The minister needs to provide additional funding for additional inspectors to ensure public safety,” Smith said.
Anton said reforms will not be a problem and the decision to commit additional resources is unlikely.
“That’s a choice made by the liquor control and licensing branch but generally, no. Generally we’re expecting that these new changes will be easily adapted and people will comply with them,” she said.
As of Saturday, 17 of the 73 recommendations had been implemented and the government is aiming to have most changes in place by next spring.
With a report from CTV Vancouver’s Tom Popyk
