Liquor Industry Update: May 4th, 2023

Dear ABLE BC Members and Industry Colleagues,

Here’s what you’ll find in today’s update:

  • Proposed changes to Vancouver’s wine in grocery model

  • BTAP Writes to Government about Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health Report

  • Minimum Wage Impact Survey

  • ABLE BC Member Webinar: Gratuities – Have the Rules Changed?

  • Have you Logged in to the ABLE BC Member Portal?

  • BCHF Victoria Golf Tournament, August 23, 2023

  • BC Restaurant Hall of Fame 2023 Call for Nominations 

  • Vancouver Magazine 34th Annual Restaurant Awards

  • Save the Date: Upcoming Events and Webinar

  • Out and About with ABLE BC!

  • Join ABLE BC Today!

Find all past updates here.

Proposed changes to Vancouver’s wine in grocery model

By now, many of you have heard that the City of Vancouver is reconsidering its rules related to wine on shelves in grocery stores. On April 12, Council approved Councillor Mike Klassen’s motion to revisit the city’s current requirement that grocery may only sell wine using the “store-within-a-store” model. The motion direct City staff to report on options to allow grocery stores to instead retail wine directly from shelves.

To be clear, this municipal motion has no impact on the province’s licensing framework, nor is the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) planning to issue new licenses. Wine on shelves is still limited to: 21 VQA Stores and 12 Special Wine on Shelves licenses. Grocery may also purchase an existing LRS and operate it inside a store-within-a-store model.

Since the motion passed, many of you have written with concerns about the longer-term implications of expanding grocery wine sales—particularly during a time of record grocery store profits. We share your concerns that these licenses are among the only liquor retail licenses in BC not subject to the provincial 1 km distance rule, which is why some municipalities (such as Kamloops, Prince George, Pitt Meadows, etc.) implemented local 1 km bylaws.

We have also heard from trading partners in the United States, the European Union, and Australia, who consider any expansion of grocery retailing—which preferences BC wines over imported products—to be a violation of Canada’s free trade agreements.

Since the motion was introduced, ABLE BC has met with Vancouver Councillors and staff to explain our concerns with this new approach. We expressed our deep concerns about potential trade implications, and explained the rationale for ensuring that all liquor retailing licenses—whether LRS, BC Liquor Store, VQA wine stores, or grocery—be subject to the same 1 km distance rule.

We will circulate further updates as they become available. In the meantime, we encourage members to share their thoughts directly with Vancouver’s City Council.

If you have further questions or concerns on this issue, please email jeff@ablebc.ca. 

BTAP Writes to Government about Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health Report

 This April, BC Cancer and the BC Ministry of Health launched “The Proof,” a campaign to educate consumers about links between alcohol consumption and cancer. While ABLE BC of course supports education related to responsible consumption, like you we are concerned that the campaign misrepresents several key facts.

For example, the campaign claims to reflect “Canada’s new Guidance on Alcohol and Health.” This is misleading, as the Government of Canada has issued no such guidance. “Canada’s new Guidance on Alcohol and Health” is a report written by the Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse. The report—which argues that no amount of alcohol consumption is safe—has been controversial since it was released.

More importantly, we have confirmed directly with Health Canada that it has NOT updated its guidance to Canadians, which remains based on the 2011 Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines.

Last week, ABLE BC and our industry colleagues from the government-appointed Business Technical Advisory Panel (BTAP) wrote to government outlining our serious concerns about the CCSA’s report and its conclusions. ABLE BC and BTAP are particularly concerned about the apparent endorsement of the report by the Ministry of HealthGiven the importance of public health messaging, it is our position that the CCSA’s report should not be used as part of any official Government communication such as this and should not currently be relied upon for any formulation of Government policy. 

We will update members once we have received a reply.

Please click here to read the full letter.

Minimum Wage Impact Survey

Thank you to everyone who participated in our minimum wage impact survey. We collected over 200 responses from ABLE members and other industry professionals. The information collected will help us better advocate on your behalf when we engage with our government partners.

59 per cent of respondents expect their payroll to increase up to $20,000 while 34 per cent expect an increase of $20,000 to $60,000. Nearly 70 per cent expect reduced profit margins and, perhaps most concerning, 67 per cent of respondents are concerned about the viability of their business due to the minimum wage increase.

The survey highlighted the financial pressure on industry and underscored what we already know: government-imposed increases to labour costs hinder our ability to create jobs and sustain economic prosperity. Industry is still struggling to recover from the pandemic, and this most recent cost increase will be the final straw for many small businesses.

ABLE BC will continue to fight for your needs. And we encourage you to express your frustration directly to the Minister of Labour, the Honourable Harry Bains, at LBR.Minister@gov.bc.ca. Please copy your local MLA and ABLE BC’s Executive Director at jeff@ablebc.ca.

ABLE BC Member Webinar: Gratuities – Have the Rules Changed?

 A recent decision of the Federal Court of Appeal has generated considerable  attention and raised questions about what sort of gratuities must be treated as employee income and taxed accordingly. Other employment standards rules about who is allowed to retain gratuities and/or participate in tip pools add further complications.

Ryan Anderson, an Employment Lawyer with Mathews Dinsdale & Clark LLP and ABLE BC member, will join us over zoom on Thursday, May 18 at 10am to provide an update and clarity in this area and answer any questions you might have about gratuities. 

If you have questions about how to handle gratuities, best practices for tip pools, or what your responsibilities are regarding payroll taxes, please send these to ann@ablebc.ca.

Webinar details:

Date: Thursday, May 18, 2023

Time: 10:00 am-11:00 am

Location: zoom

Tickets: FREE for ABLE BC members. $10 for non-members.

Register Here

Have you Logged in to the ABLE BC Member Portal?

All ABLE BC members were given access to our new and improved Member Portal earlier this year. Have you logged in yet?

 We encourage you to take some time to check out the portal! If you aren’t sure how to access it, email Ann Brydle, Manager of Membership and Communication, at ann@ablebc.ca to get your password.

Our Member Portal is filled with tools and resources to help your business thrive. Find our FAQs, free pdf downloads, event registration, past webinar recordings are more!

You can also learn more about and connect with our valued benefit providers (Global Payments, Foodbuy, VI Banking, Western Financial, and more) and Associate Members. Browse through the member directory to connect with industry experts and suppliers.

Update your profile to ensure your contact information is correct and make sure you are subscribed to our bi-weekly Industry Update newsletter. You can also upload your company logo and social media channels and add employee accounts so your key staff can access the full suite of ABLE benefits and resources.

Questions about the member portal? Email Ann at ann@ablebc.ca or watch the Member Portal introduction webinar.

BCHF Victoria Golf Tournament, August 23, 2023

The BC Hospitality Foundation’s Victoria Golf Tournament returns to Olympic View Golf Club for a 9th year on August 23! 

The BCHF is seeking experienced and aspiring golfers to come out and help raise money for the important work the foundation does with medical relief funding and for industry scholarships.

The shotgun start is 1:00 pm on August 23rd. On course, you'll find plenty of food and beverage sampling. Whether you join as a single golfer or in a foursome, you are helping industry colleagues in their time of need when facing a financial crisis due to a medical condition – or when they are seeking to advance themselves through seeking out more education. 

After golf, you are invited to join us for a standing reception, silent auction, and buffet dinner. Sign up for a fun day of golf and camaraderie and raise much needed funds that make a difference. 

Wednesday, August 23
Olympic View Golf Club - 643 Latoria Road

11:30 am | Registration begins

1:00 pm | Shotgun Start

Buy your tickets here!  

More info about the foundation here.

 BC Restaurant Hall of Fame 2023 Call for Nominations 
The BCRFA BC Restaurant Hall of Fame returns on October 23, 2023 at the Italian Cultural Centre.
Nominations are now open!
Tickets to attend the Inductee Evening are now on sale. Click here to purchase.

Monday, October 23

5:30 pm

Italian Cultural Centre, 3075 Slocan Street, Vancouver

Vancouver Magazine 34th Annual Restaurant Awards

Join Vancouver Magazine for the 2023 Restaurant Awards as we celebrate the very best of Vancouver’s dining scene. Connect with the industry and enjoy delicious drinks and bites from our sponsors before we announce the winners!

Tickets can be purchased here and they are going fast! 

Monday, May 15

1:00 pm-5:00 pm

Italian Cultural Centre, 3075 Slocan Street, Vancouver

Save the Date: Upcoming Events and Webinars 

Check out these upcoming events:

Click here for full details on upcoming events and webinars.

Out and About with ABLE BC!

Earlier this week, ABLE’s Manager of Membership and Communication Ann Brydle attended the BC Hotel Association (BCHA) Summit in Kelowna. It was a fabulous two-days of connecting with our hotelier members, learning more about the issues specific to accommodators, and enjoying the Okanagan sun!

In case you missed it, the 6th episode of the Tourism Association of BC’s (TIABC) Voice of Tourism Podcast was released on April 24. In this episode, Walt Judas, CEO of TIABC, speaks with Jeff Guignard, Executive Director of ABLE BC, about the work we do on behalf of private liquor and cannabis operators, some of the issues they face currently, and how government can assist this sector in its economic recovery following the pandemic.

Join ABLE BC Today!

ABLE BC is the leading liquor advocacy organization in the province. We have a proven track record of success fighting for the interests of Liquor Primary and Licensee Retail Store businesses. We are dedicated to helping our industry come out of the pandemic stronger than ever!  

We can’t do our work without the support of our members. ABLE is a non-profit organization and we depend on membership fees to continue to lobby and fight for your needs. 

ABLE BC members have access to several benefit programs that offer exclusive discounts and are designed to help your business thrive. In addition to our benefit programs, we offer expert advice, regular webinars, the annual Liquor Industry Conference, and many networking opportunities. 

Join ABLE BC Today!

Ann Brydle