Liquor Industry Update: January 11, 2024

Dear ABLE BC members and industry colleagues,
Here’s what you’ll find in today’s update:

  • New Year, New Team: Welcoming David Lough and Bo Chen to ABLE BC!

  • ABLE BC Advocacy Wins for Vancouver's Liquor Primary Businesses

  • ABLE BC Industry Reception on February 1

  • Advertise with ABLE BC: 2024 Media Kit Now Available

  • Reminder: Last Chance to Order your 2024 ID Checking Guides

  • CEBA Loan Repayment Options

  • Industry Scholarships Available from BCHF and Les Dames d'Escoffier!

  • Workplace Accessibility Grant

  • Cannabis Corner: Help Support our Advocacy Efforts

  • go2HR on Tap: New Year, New Start: Setting Intentions to be a More Mindful Employee

  • Out and About with ABLE BC

New Year, New Team: Welcoming David Lough and Bo Chen to ABLE BC!

ABLE BC started 2024 by welcoming two new staff members to our team. We are thrilled to introduce David Lough, Manager of Membership Services, and Bo Chen, Head of Cannabis Memberships!

David Lough is a skilled sales and stakeholder-relations professional with nearly three decades of experience. His background in pub management gives him an acute understanding of the challenges facing pub, bar, and liquor store owners and operators.

“I’m looking forward to sharing my expertise with ABLE members and growing the Alliance so we can achieve even more in the future,” says David. He is your go-to resource for membership inquiries, member portal questions, renewals, and event registration. 

Bo’s career in the cannabis industry began in the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR) days. He worked primarily with Licensed Producers, with a focus on licensing and regulatory compliance. Since cannabis legalization, Bo has been a dedicated advocate, supporting cannabis businesses in navigating this unique and challenging industry. Bo now brings his expertise in cannabis production, licensing, and compliance to ABLE BC’s cannabis retail members.

“My goal is to be a champion for ABLE BC’s cannabis members, fight for their business needs, and connect them with industry leaders and government officials,” says Bo. Reach out today to learn more about ABLE’s advocacy work for private cannabis retailers.

David and Bo have joined Executive Director Jeff Guignard and Communications Manager Ann Brydle in our continued efforts to support and uplift the private liquor and cannabis industries.

“Expanding the ABLE BC team has long been an organizational goal,” says Jeff. “With David and Bo coming on board, we’re well positioned to increase member services and benefits and see even more advocacy wins in the coming months. This is a great time to join ABLE BC and see what our skilled team of professionals can do for you!”

Reach out to David at david@ablebc.ca and Bo at bo@ablebc.ca.

ABLE BC Advocacy Wins for Vancouver’s Liquor Primary Businesses

In July 2023, the City of Vancouver announced the creation of a Vancouver Hospitality Sector Working Group. This group brought together city staff, ABLE BC, Rising Tide Consultants, the BCRFA, the Craft Brewers Guild, and other industry partners to work collaboratively on building a more fun and more profitable nightlife for Vancouver bars, pubs, and nightclubs.

In December 2023, we were thrilled to celebrate several advocacy wins for Vancouver's Liquor Primary businesses. As a direct result of our work with the City of Vancouver, and with the support of our partners in the Hospitality Sector Working Group, nightlife businesses in Vancouver will see more opportunities and more profit in 2024 and beyond! 

The following changes are now in effect:

  • Distance requirements lifted - The City of Vancouver has long implemented distance requirements that throttled the growth of similar-sized Liquor Primary businesses. With these requirements now lifted, more establishments of similar size can open in a given area and encourage more customers and tourists to visit.

  • Moratorium on new liquor establishments lifted - Removing the moratoria on new liquor establishments in the Granville Entertainment District, Gastown, and other areas of Vancouver allows room for business expansion, new business opportunities, and innovative economic activity. This will increase business diversity, attracting new customers and improving safety with more open businesses in the daytime and evenings. 

  • Harmonized closing hours - Nightclubs, pubs, and bars on Granville Street now have harmonized closing hours, providing the option to stay open until 4am and increase opportunity for financial viability.

  • Increased capacity of Class 2 establishments - The largest liquor establishments allowed next to residential areas (Class 2 establishments) can now increase to 200 seats, allowing these businesses increased opportunity for profitability.

  • Authority delegated to the Chief Licence Inspector - The Chief Licence Inspector can now make recommendations to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) without a Council resolution, streamlining the licensing process for faster approvals and changes.

  • Dual-licence establishments can transition to into bar at 9pm - The transition time has moved up one hour (from 10pm), bringing this regulation into alignment with the rest of BC.

Click here for more information. 

Jeff addressed Vancouver City Council on December 13, 2023, in support of these policy changes, which align with ABLE BC's goal to "stand for responsible and smart liquor laws."

ABLE BC Industry Reception on February 1

Join ABLE BC's Board of Directors, staff, and local industry professionals on February 1st in Vancouver for an evening of fun as we celebrate the end of another busy and successful holiday season!

Mark your calendars - more information coming soon!

Click here to register now

Advertise with ABLE BC: 2024 Media Kit Now Available

Attention ABLE BC Associate Members, agents, producers, and industry suppliers: connect with BC’s private liquor and cannabis industries by advertising with ABLE BC! Put your business in direct contact with owners, managers, and decision-makers of BC’s bars, pubs, nightclubs, hotels, and private liquor and cannabis stores.

ABLE BC Associate Members receive a  15% discount on print and digital advertising!

Enjoy a wide range of advertising options:

  • The Quarterly Pour magazine

  • The Liquor and/or Cannabis Industry Update newsletters

  • Dedicated E-blast

  • The annual Buyers’ Guide

  • Sponsor or present a webinar

  • Social Media posting

  • And more!

Contact Joyce Hayne, EMC Publications, at 1-800-667-0955 or joyce@emcmarketing.com to book in now!

Download the 2024 Media Kit

Reminder: Last Chance to Order Your 2024 ID Checking Guides

The  NEW 2024 North American ID Checking Guide and  15th Edition International ID Checking Guide are now available to order through ABLE BC.

Today is the last day to place an order and secure our group buying discount

For more information on the ID Checking Guide Books download our FAQ. Place your order  HERE by  Thursday, January 11, 2024, for the 2024 North American ID Checking Guide and 15th Edition International ID Checking Guide. 

Anticipated 2024 Prices:

  • North American Guide Book - $16.60

  • International Guide Book - $37.00

  • Please note these prices do not include shipping and handling or reflect the US-Canadian conversion rate

  • Non-members will be charged a $15.00 administration fee

If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact ABLE BC at david@ablebc.ca.

CEBA Loan Repayment Options

The Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) loan repayment deadline is coming up on January 18, 2024.

ABLE BC, along with a broad coalition of industry partners, urged the federal government to further extend the interest-free repayment terms. We are disappointed that our government partners failed to understand the serious financial pressure our industry is experiencing. We are saddened to see our members saddled with debt while struggling to recover financially from the pandemic.

You have three options for CEBA repayment:

  1. Repay in full by January 18th, 2024. This will allow you to retain the $10 to $20 thousand in loan forgiveness.

  2. If you can’t repay by January 18th, you have the option of seeking refinancing from a financial institution to repay your CEBA loan, which will allow you to retain the $10 to $20 thousand in loan forgiveness. You must contact a financial institution and apply for the refinancing before January 18th, 2024, and successfully be refinanced by March 28, 2024. Interest rates and the term of the loan will be set by the financial institution providing the refinancing.

  3. If you cannot repay by January 18th, 2024, and are not able to refinance, interest will start accruing at 5% annually on the entire loan and you will not be eligible to retain the $10 to $20 thousand in loan forgiveness. The full loan will be due by December 31, 2026. 

Click here for more information.

Click here to send a letter to the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s Minister of Finance, sharing why extending CEBA until the end of 2024 is the best solution for industry.

Industry Scholarships Available from BCHF and Les Dames d’Escoffier!

The BC Hospitality Foundation (BCHF) and Les Dames d'Escoffier BC Chapter are now accepting 2024 scholarship applications!

BCHF:

The BC Hospitality Foundation has a strong scholarship program. Since 2009, it has awarded 363 scholarships to future leaders in the hospitality industry, amounting to over $463,500 

Click here to view all scholarship options and 2024 guidelines.

Les Dames d'Escoffier: 

Les Dames d’Escoffier, BC Chapter is proud to grant scholarships annually to women of any age and at any stage of their culinary, beverage or hospitality career. To date Les Dames d’Escoffier, BC Chapter has granted over $300,000 in funds to support scholars since our inception in 1992.

Click here to view all scholarship options and 2024 eligibility.

Workplace Accessibility Grant

The Workplace Accessibility Grant provides direct supports to small business employers in British Columbia by providing direct financial assistance towards creating an accessible work environment for persons with a disability(ies).

Eligible businesses can apply for funding for projects that improve workplace accessibility in the business, while addressing and removing barriers in your workplace for people with disabilities.

Important Details:

  • Grants up to $5000 are available to improve workplace accessibility

  • Grants will be administered until March 31, 2024

  • Eligible businesses must have fewer than 50 employees

Click here for full details.

Cannabis Corner: Help Support Our Advocacy Efforts

As ABLE BC works to support BC’s private cannabis retailers, we meet regularly with various officials at the LDB, LCRB, and with elected officials in the federal, provincial, and municipal governments.

To support your businesses, ABLE BC is advocating on behalf of members with the provincial government and municipalities to implement mandatory distance rules between new cannabis stores (including government stores). ABLE BC has a proven track record of success in the  liquor store and pub industry. We have seen the value and positive impact on protecting existing licensed businesses by rolling out and upholding a door-to-door distance criteria, such as protected revenues, accessible banking, and increased value in your licensed asset.

Want to get involved in our cannabis advocacy? To join our Cannabis Committee or sign up as a member, contact our Head of Cannabis Membership Bo Chen at  bo@ablebc.ca.

Join ABLE BC Cannabis Today!

go2HR on Tap: New Year, New Start: Setting Intentions to be a More Mindful Employee

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.

Out and About with ABLE BC

Now that our team is back from a restful and well-deserved holiday break, we’re eager to get back to work, connect with industry, and tackle whatever challenges 2024 may bring! Stay tuned for updates on ABLE BC events and news coming soon.

We hope to see you at our Industry Reception in Vancouver on February 1! Please get in touch with jeff@ablebc.ca if you would like more information.

ABLE BC’s Executive Director Jeff Guignard appeared in the following media recently:

Ann Brydle