Liquor Industry Update --------------------------------------------------------
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Liquor Industry Update:
July 11, 2024
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Dear ABLE BC members and industry colleagues,
Here's the latest news for the private liquor industry:
What you'll find in every newsletter:
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Renewal Season is Here!
ABLE BC memberships expire on August 31, 2024. Members can renew by logging into the Member Portal and following the renewal instructions posted on the dashboard.
If you have questions about your renewal, don't know how to log into the Member Portal, or would like to discuss a payment plan, please contact David Lough, Manager of Membership Services, at david@ablebc.ca or 604-688-5560 ex. 2.
On your behalf, ABLE BC advocates for business-friendly policies and cost-saving measures that help the private liquor industry thrive. ABLE BC is your seat at the table, ensuring your concerns are heard and addressed by government. We present a united voice that speaks for the entire private liquor industry in BC.
We are only able to do this work because of the support of our members. Put simply, ABLE BC does not exist without your membership dues. Your support is critical to our industry’s success.
We are dedicated to safeguarding your investments by pushing for policies that reduce risk and relieve financial pressure, ensuring your business thrives. Let's secure a prosperous future together.
Prompt payment of your membership dues will enable us to continue our track record of successful advocacy for BC’s private liquor industry through the year ahead.
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BC’s Hub for Workplace Mental Health
The Canadian Mental Health Association has created a resource hub for employers and employees dealing with mental health challenges at work.
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Cannabis Industry Update Newsletter
Sign up for our Cannabis Industry Update Newsletter to learn more about our advocacy for cannabis retailers. Click here to read past cannabis newsletters.
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ABLE BC
Member Portal
The Member Portal is your hub for all resources and benefits available to ABLE BC members. Contact david@ablebc.ca if you need help logging in.
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LCRB Bulletin: Plastic Containers in Stadiums
Earlier this week, the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) published Bulletin 24-06: use of plastic containers in stadiums. This bulletin impacts Liquor Primary stadium licensees and introduces restrictions on certain plastics in line with BC’s Single-Use and Plastic Waste Prevention Regulation.
What's changing
As of July 15, 2024, there will be restrictions on certain plastics (e.g., for takeaway containers) through B.C.’s Single-Use and Plastic Waste Prevention Regulation.
The current Liquor Primary Licence Terms and Conditions and Liquor Policy Manual require stadiums to serve liquor in disposable containers (e.g., plastic or paper) to ensure the safety of spectators.
The Liquor Primary Licence Terms and Conditions and Liquor Policy Manual will be changing to require stadiums to comply with the new provincial restrictions.
What do licensees need to do
Licensees will need to comply with B.C.’s Single-Use and Plastic Waste Prevention Regulation when using plastic containers for serving liquor in stadiums.
For resources to help you understand the new regulations, please visit the Province's Plastics webpage: Plastics - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca).
Helpful information
Read all about the changes in the:
If you have any questions about plastic regulations, please contact ann@ablebc.ca, LCRBLiquorPolicy@gov.bc.ca, or plastics@gov.bc.ca.
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Take the ABLE BC Wage Survey
ABLE BC seeks to understand how the June 1 minimum wage increase has affected members’ businesses, what industry standards are for starting wages, and what our members include in employee benefits packages.
This survey is for all Cannabis Retail Store (CRS), Licensee Retail Store (LRS), and Liquor Primary (LP) licensees in BC.
Your replies are vital to our research and advocacy work and will help us better advance the needs of our members.
This survey should take less than 5 minutes to complete and will remain open until July 19, 2024.
The information you provide in this survey will be kept strictly private and confidential. Your responses will not be viewed on an individual basis but analyzed in aggregate form.
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Reminder: Flash Sale & Inter-Provincial Retail Reporting Tools
BC Liquor Stores Hidden SKU & Flash Sale Reporting Tool
ABLE BC's LRS Policy Committee is examining serious allegations of unfair retail practices from BC Liquor Stores. Members have alerted the committee to several "hidden" SKUs -- i.e. products exclusive to BCLs but with an equivalent higher-priced SKU in the private channel. These hidden SKUs are often used in BCL flash sales, which in some cases are sold at or below the wholesale price of the equivalent LRS product.
We are deeply concerned this may be a deliberate strategy to undercut private retailers and gain market share. If so, we believe this is both unfair and counter to government's goals of encouraging responsible consumption.
We need your help to gather examples of hidden SKUs sold at or below the wholesale price of equivalent LRS products. Use our new reporting tool to help ABLE BC build a file of examples we can bring to government.
Inter-Provincial Retailing Reporting Tool
Many members have provided with examples of Alberta liquor retailers shipping products directly to customers in BC, which is against the law. We are also aware of Alberta liquor retailers advertising online to BC customers, encouraging illegal inter-provincial retailing.
Not only is this practice offside with regulations, it is also hurting LRS profitability here in BC. Some members have reported significant lost revenue from sale of higher-priced products or bulk orders for events, with customers freely admitting they are ordering from Alberta instead. Left unchecked, this practice will also mean substantial lost tax revenue for the BC government.
To complicate the issue further, the legal drinking age in Alberta is 18 compared to 19 in BC. When shipping products across the border, Albertan retailers are not required, nor are they equipped, to ensure they are not selling to minors in BC.
While we work with our government partners to resolve this issue, you may recall that several months ago Alberta’s Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) unfairly delisted all BC wines after allegations that some BC wineries were shipping products directly to Albertan consumers. This dispute has not yet been resolved.
We need your help to stop illegal inter-provincial retailing. Use our new reporting tool to document examples of Alberta retailers advertising in BC and Alberta retailers delivering orders to customers in BC.
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Occupational First Aid Regulatory Change
WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors has approved amendments to Part 3 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, relating to occupational first aid (OFA). These amendments take effect November 1, 2024.
To assist you in preparing for the new requirements, WorkSafeBC has shared information about the new workplace first aid curriculum and additional resources to help you understand the first aid regulatory changes.
For detailed information, please see:
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WorkSafeBC Releases New Heat Stress Screening Tool
When working in a hot environment, workers can experience heat stress. It's important to protect workers from the risk of heat stress by implementing controls.
WorkSafeBC’s new heat stress screening tool helps you evaluate when workers may be at risk of heat stress and when you need to implement effective controls. The use of this screening tool does not replace your responsibilities under the Workers Compensation Act and Occupational Health and Safety Regulations for providing workers with a healthy and safe work environment.
To learn more about heat exposure assessment and controls, see OHS Guidelines: Heat Exposure and Preventing Heat Stress at Work.
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Lift the Strain on Small Business
Get involved! ABLE BC is supporting Restaurants Canada’s campaign to lower EI premiums for small businesses.
Help us and Restaurants Canada tell government to lift the strain by reducing the EI Premium rate to 1.58%.
Use this form to tell your Member of Parliament that lowering EI premiums matters to you and other businesses in your community. Spread the word on social media using #LifttheStrain.
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Cannabis Corner:
Feven Berhane, Cannabis Committee Chair
We're excited to announce Feven Berhane as the new Chair of the ABLE BC Cannabis Committee!
We offer a heartfelt thanks to Steve Dowsley, outgoing Chair, for his commitment and support during his tenure. Steve will continue to be a trusted advisor and will maintain memberships for all Burb locations.
Feven is the proud Co-Founder of KushKlub Canada, a cannabis retail brand with locations in Vancouver and Toronto. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in BC's private cannabis retail industry, and we are excited to see how her leadership steers our cannabis advocacy in the coming months.
Please join us in welcoming Feven!
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Feven Berhane at StratCann's Growing Relationships Kelowna
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go2HR on Tap:
Creating Safer Spaces
go2HR is a regular contributor to the ABLE BC Liquor Industry Update newsletter, providing tips and guidance on current HR trends, new legislation, employee recruitment and retention, and more. To read the latest instalment, sign in to the member portal or sign up for the newsletter.
Employees should always feel safe at work. Employers can ensure safety and protect staff from bullying and harassment by integrating Safer Spaces into their work environment.
go2HR courses are designed for the tourism and hospitality sector and provide free online resources for managers and supervisors, to share with staff. Safer Spaces trains employers and employees by offering tools, resources, and knowledge to prevent workplace harassment. When employers apply Safer Spaces training, they become leaders in building a safer work culture. Employers should also implement clear policies and procedures that prioritize employee safety. This way, employees feel supported by their employer and have access to training, effective policies, and resources.
Safer Spaces promotes diversity, inclusion, and a respectful workplace. Creating safer spaces for employees isn’t just the right thing to do; it makes good business sense. Promoting a safe space retains top talent and increases morale, worker productivity, and job satisfaction.
Registration for Safer Spaces is free! The course is online, accessible, and self-paced. Learn more about Safer Spaces today!
go2HR, the HR and health and safety association for the BC Tourism and Hospitality Industry, has a wealth of free resources to support you. We invite you to connect with us to learn more about how you can support your employees at hr@go2HR.ca.
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Out and About with ABLE BC
With renewals coming due at the end August, the ABLE BC team is busy getting prepared to send out renewal invoices and receive renewal payments. Members will receive more information shortly on how to renew your ABLE BC membership and the benefits and resources available to you once you renew.
If renewal information should be sent to a specific person or department on your team, if you need a group invoice for multiple memberships, or if you need to set up a payment plan, please contact us right away!
Our whole team is here to help set you up for success. Don't hesitate to reach out anytime.
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Ann Brydle and David Lough at ABLE BC's 20th anniversary celebration
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Save the Date: Upcoming Events and Webinars
Check out these upcoming events:
- BCHF Victoria Golf Tournament, Victoria, August 21
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Canna Golf Classic, Vancouver, August 20-21
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StratCann Kootenay Cannabis Farm Tour, Nelson, August 31
- IVSA Tasting Salon, Victoria, September 10
- IVSA Tasting Salon, Kelowna, September 17
- IVSA Tasting Salon, Kamloops, September 18
- IVSA Tasting Salon, Vancouver, October 8
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Copyright © 2024
BC's Alliance of Beverage Licensees (ABLE BC)
200 - 948 Howe Street, Vancouver, V6Z 1N9 Canada
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