Liquor Policy Changes for 2017

BC’s Liquor Control & Licensing Branch announced a wide range of liquor policy changes, which will all come into effect on January 23, 2017.

1.     Licence transfers: The new owner of the business is now liable for the establishment

2.     Removal of resident manager requirement and assigning a licensee representative

3.     Streamline a requirement that changes in corporate share ownership must be reported to the branch

4.     Serving it Right

5.     Serving It Right – record-keeping requirements

6.      Permit local governments/First Nations to delegate licensing decisions to staff

7.      Age of a shareholder will only be considered if they own more than 10% shares

8.      Broaden who can advertise liquor

9.      Update conditions for dormant licences

10.     Sponsorship

11.      Right to refuse certain reapplications

12.     New and updated definitions for service area, establishment, event site

13.     Provide flexibility to extend the hours of liquor service in exceptional circumstances

14.     Dispensing Liquor and Liquor Infusions

15.     Reporting Requirements

16.     Change to process for applications requiring a criminal record check

 

1.      UBrew and UVin record-keeping and reporting requirements

2.      Hours for UBrews/UVins

3.      Remove restrictions on keg sizes for Licensee Retail Stores

4.      Home-brewed beer and wine

See details at http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/lclb/docs-forms/policy-directive-2016-14.pdf

 

1.     Permit patrons in a hotel liquor primary or food primary to take an unfinished drink to their room

2.     Permit establishments to have dual food primary and liquor primary licensing

3.     Streamline requirements for promotional events

4.    Remove restrictions on BYOW at banquet halls

5.    Remove requirement for licensees to state where unfinished wine must be stored in a vehicle

6.    Allow food primaries to shift the focus of the business away from food service when liquor service isn’t occurring

7.    Liquor-free events at food primaries

8.    New food primary application process regarding fees

9.    Allow caterers to store liquor off-site

See details at http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/lclb/docs-forms/policy-directive-2016-15.pdf

 

1.     Allow liquor primaries to relocate to a new community

2.     Employing minors in a liquor primary establishment

3.     Permit hotels/resorts with a liquor primary to provide a free alcoholic drink to guests in the lobby/reception area at check-in

4.     Permit patrons in a hotel liquor primary or food primary to take an unfinished alcoholic drink to their room

5.     Permit establishments to have dual food primary and liquor primary licensing

6.     Modernize the club licence and allow clubs to more easily transition to a liquor primary licence

7.      Streamline requirements for promotional events

8.     Enhance flexibility for liquor primaries to hold liquor-free events

9.     Allow businesses outside hospitality, entertainment or beverage service to apply for a liquor primary licence

10.   Allow liquor primaries with an off-sales endorsement to deliver liquor

11.    Concert halls and live event theatres

12.   Streamline the application process for a liquor primary licence

13.   Permit minors at licensed recreation facilities after 10 p.m. for family-focused events

14.   Golf course patrons can take a drink from one service area to another

15.   Stadiums and concert halls

16.   Remove requirement for licensees to state where unfinished wine must be stored in a vehicle

17.   Amend requirement for local governments/First Nations to assess their own applications

18.   Streamline the comment criteria for local governments/First Nations

See details at http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/lclb/docs-forms/policy-directive-2016-16.pdf

 

1.     Changes to agent licences

2.     New definition of production for wineries

3.     Requirement for all manufacturers to have equipment

4.     Contract manufacturing

5.     Removal of tour area applications

6.     Picnic areas

7.     Person capacities required for new outdoor Special Event Areas

8.     New record-keeping requirements

9.     Allow agents and B.C. manufacturers to take unfinished bottles of liquor used for sampling

10.   Authority for the general manager to suspend/cancel if Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) agreement is suspended/cancelled

11.   Certain manufacturers that don’t sell are exempt from requiring a manufacturer licence in B.C.

12.   Minors working at a manufacturing site

13.   Streamline requirements for promotional events

14.   Streamline the application process for a manufacturer lounge and Special Event Area

15.   Serving up to 20% of other manufacturers liquor in a lounge or SEA

16.   Permit the service of liquor associated with a second manufacturer licence at the same site

17.   Require licensees, not manufacturers, to apply for a tied house exemption

18.   Remove requirement for licensees to state where unfinished wine must be stored in a vehicle

19.   Streamline the comment criteria for local governments/First Nations

See details at http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/lclb/docs-forms/policy-directive-2016-17.pdf

 

1.     Special Event Permits

2.      Update the conditions for a Special Occasion Licence (now a Special Event Permit)

3.     Special Occasion Licensees (now Special Event Permittees) can limit product selection and have agreements with a manufacturer

4.     Allow Special Occasion Licensees (now Special Event Permittees) to keep leftover liquor

5.     Allow non-residents and non-citizens to apply for a special event permit

See details at http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/lclb/docs-forms/policy-directive-2016-18.pdf

 

1.    Choice of penalty

2.     Reconsideration process

3.     Judicial reviews must be commenced within 30 days of a decision by the general manager

4.    Compliance and enforcement against former licensees

5.    Compliance history

Details can be seen at http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/lclb/docs-forms/policy-directive-2016-19.pdf