Weekly Liquor Industry Update: February 10, 2022
Dear ABLE BC Members and Industry Colleagues,
Here's what you'll find inside today's update:
Update to Provincial Health Order for Liquor Serving Establishments
Catering Partnership Agreement Template
Deadline to Apply for COVID-19 Sick Leave in 2021 is Tomorrow
LDB Inventory Count: February 10-13
Throne Speech Lays Out Post-Pandemic Recovery Plan
COVID-19 Assistance Programs
Temporary Expansion to Eligibility for the Local Lockdown Program
Is Crime on the Rise?
BCHA Appoints Alison Langford as New Workforce Strategist
Reminder: TESA's Expiring Soon, Apply for a Permanent Patio NOW
Reminder: Paid Sick Leave Survey & FAQ
Vancouver Cocktail Week 2022
ABLE BC in the News
Find all past updates here.
Update to Provincial Health Orders for Liquor Serving Establishments
Yesterday, Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, released additional guidance on how liquor-serving-only businesses can remain open by providing meals from external sources.
Liquor primary licensees that do not offer full meal service have been ordered closed since December 22, 2022. Since then, there has been considerable confusion from inspectors across BC on issues such as whether licensees could: 1) partner with a local pub, restaurant, or food truck to offer meals, or 2) remain open to serve liquor after closing kitchens for the evening, as is normal industry practice.
Yesterday’s order clarifies this process. ABLE BC and our industry partners worked directly with the PHO to bring about these necessary changes to support members who have been ordered closed simply because they did not have kitchens.
To summarize the changes:
A liquor primary licensee that does not offer meal service (ie bars and nightclubs) may enter into a Catering Partnership Agreement with one or more catering partners to offer full meal service.
A catering partner might include a food truck, catering company, or other food-serving premises such as a restaurant, pub, or quick-service restaurant.
Full meal service means offering a wide variety of food, which may include appetizers, main courses, and desserts, but not just appetizers, tapas, or dessert or snacks such as popcorn, nuts, or chips.
The licensee must maintain a record of sale of meals. This can be a copy of sales provided by the catering partner and does not need to include original receipts. This record must be available for inspectors at all times.
Catering Partner Agreements must be available for inspectors at all times.
Full meal service can be stopped up to three hours before ending liquor service.
The order, for catering agreements, now has the same expiry date as the Gatherings and Events order, February 16, 2022, except for Part D (Proof of Vaccination) which is still set to expire on June 30, 2022.
Click here to read the full text of the revised order. A guidance document will also be available soon to assist licensees in interpreting the order.
HELPFUL LINKS
ABLE BC Resources
Visit our COVID-19 Resources page for Liquor Primary COVID Best Practices, template signage, recent policy changes, and more.
Public Health Orders
Visit this page to download all current regional and provincial public health orders.
BC's Restart Plan
Visit the BC Government website for more information on the four-step
Restart Plan.
go2HR Resources
Visit the go2HR website for COVID-19 FAQ for Employers, HR information and updates, and more.
Weekly Liquor Industry Update: February 10, 2022
Dear ABLE BC Members and Industry Colleagues,
Here's what you'll find inside today's update:
Update to Provincial Health Order for Liquor Serving Establishments
Catering Partnership Agreement Template
Deadline to Apply for COVID-19 Sick Leave in 2021 is Tomorrow
LDB Inventory Count: February 10-13
Throne Speech Lays Out Post-Pandemic Recovery Plan
COVID-19 Assistance Programs
Temporary Expansion to Eligibility for the Local Lockdown Program
Is Crime on the Rise?
BCHA Appoints Alison Langford as New Workforce Strategist
Reminder: TESA's Expiring Soon, Apply for a Permanent Patio NOW
Reminder: Paid Sick Leave Survey & FAQ
Vancouver Cocktail Week 2022
ABLE BC in the News
Find all past updates here.
Update to Provincial Health Orders for Liquor Serving Establishments
Yesterday, Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, released additional guidance on how liquor-serving-only businesses can remain open by providing meals from external sources.
Liquor primary licensees that do not offer full meal service have been ordered closed since December 22, 2022. Since then, there has been considerable confusion from inspectors across BC on issues such as whether licensees could: 1) partner with a local pub, restaurant, or food truck to offer meals, or 2) remain open to serve liquor after closing kitchens for the evening, as is normal industry practice.
Yesterday’s order clarifies this process. ABLE BC and our industry partners worked directly with the PHO to bring about these necessary changes to support members who have been ordered closed simply because they did not have kitchens.
To summarize the changes:
A liquor primary licensee that does not offer meal service (ie bars and nightclubs) may enter into a Catering Partnership Agreement with one or more catering partners to offer full meal service.
A catering partner might include a food truck, catering company, or other food-serving premises such as a restaurant, pub, or quick-service restaurant.
Full meal service means offering a wide variety of food, which may include appetizers, main courses, and desserts, but not just appetizers, tapas, or dessert or snacks such as popcorn, nuts, or chips.
The licensee must maintain a record of sale of meals. This can be a copy of sales provided by the catering partner and does not need to include original receipts. This record must be available for inspectors at all times.
Catering Partner Agreements must be available for inspectors at all times.
Full meal service can be stopped up to three hours before ending liquor service.
The order, for catering agreements, now has the same expiry date as the Gatherings and Events order, February 16, 2022, except for Part D (Proof of Vaccination) which is still set to expire on June 30, 2022.
Click here to read the full text of the revised order. A guidance document will also be available soon to assist licensees in interpreting the order.
HELPFUL LINKS
ABLE BC Resources
Visit our COVID-19 Resources page for Liquor Primary COVID Best Practices, template signage, recent policy changes, and more.
Public Health Orders
Visit this page to download all current regional and provincial public health orders.
BC's Restart Plan
Visit the BC Government website for more information on the four-step
Restart Plan.
go2HR Resources
Visit the go2HR website for COVID-19 FAQ for Employers, HR information and updates, and more.
Catering Partnership Agreement Template
We have created a template Catering Partnership Agreement for you.
Click here to download a fillable pdf form.
If you have any questions or would like the template in another format, email us at info@ablebc.ca.
Deadline to Apply for COVID-19 Sick Leave in 2021 is Tomorrow
Tomorrow is the last day to apply for reimbursement for employee COVID-19 sick leave taken between May 20, 2021 to December 31, 2021.
The reimbursement program will close tomorrow at 4:00 pm.
Reimbursement applications must be submitted online through WorkSafeBC.
If you have questions, please email LBR.COVIDPaidSickLeave@gov.bc.ca or call 1-888-PAY-4C19
LDB Inventory Count: February 10-13
The LDB distribution centres in Delta and Kamloops will be conducting a physical inventory count from Thursday, February 10 to Sunday, February 13. The distribution centres will not be filling orders during this time.
Click here to read a memo from the LDB.
Throne Speech Lays Out Post-Pandemic Recovery Plan
On Tuesday afternoon, BCs Lieutenant Governor, the honourable Janet Austen, opened the 3rd session of the 42nd Parliament of BC with the Speech from the Throne.
The speech outlined how the BC Government is focusing on pandemic recovery by investing in safer workplaces, new schools, and lobbying Ottawa for more money for health care. Other plans for this year include fighting climate change, helping communities adapt to extreme weather, making everyday life more affordable, and ensuring sustainable economic growth.
Some of the specific actions the government will take this year include:
• Tying minimum wage increases to the rate of inflation
• Introducing a cooling-off period on home purchases
• A 10-year commitment to closing the skills gap by developing needed talent
The speech also hinted at announcements expected in the coming weeks, including an economic recovery plan and a possible easing of restrictions.
Click here to read more.
COVID-19 Assistance Programs
Here is a list of support programs available:
You can also download the Canada Business App to find government programs and services.
Temporary Expansion to Eligibility for the Local Lockdown Program
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has temporarily expanded eligibility for the Local Lockdown Program. The temporary changes are applicable for the claim periods 24 and 25 (December 19, 2021 to February 12, 2022).
Applications can be made through the CRAs My Business Account or through Represent a Client for business representatives.
Click here for more details.
Is Crime on the Rise?
Over the past few months, we have heard disturbing reports from many of you about increased crime, vandalism, and mischief in front of your establishments. While annual crime statistics point to overall decreases in crime across BC, we know this is not the story in some of your neighbourhoods.
To help bring greater attention and resources to this issue, we are seeking support from members who have CCTV footage of criminal activity or mischief occurring outside their businesses. We hope to use this footage to raise awareness with media and government decision-makers about how crime is hurting your business.
If you are willing to share your footage or stories, please contact Executive Director Jeff Guignard at jeff@ablebc.ca. We will not share any information or video without your consent.
BCHA Appoints Alison Langford as New Workforce Strategist
The BC Hotel Association (BHCA) has appointed Alison Langford as its Workforce Specialist, a new position for the association in response to the industry’s labour crisis.
Alison is a licensed BC Foreign-Worker Recruiter and Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant and will play a key role in recruitment efforts for the hospitality industry.
“B.C.’s workforce shortage has reached a critical juncture and operators across the province have overwhelmingly agreed that access to skilled workers is among their most pressing concerns for 2022,” says Ingrid Jarrett, president and CEO of the BCHA. “We knew it was imperative to have someone on our team with the background and expertise our industry can lean on to better support operators and deliver solutions to mitigate this crisis.”
Alison will be a guest panelist for BCHA’s upcoming virtual event, Workforce Recovery Panel: Navigating Recruitment Resources and Programs, on February 16 at 1:00 pm.
You can reach Alison directly at alison@bcha.com
Reminder: TESA’s Expiring Soon, Apply for a Permanent Patio NOW
If you are planning to install a patio this summer, you need to take urgent action now. TESA applications from last year are expiring soon and do not provide approval for patios this coming summer.
On June 15, 2021, the LCRB extended the deadline for currently approved Temporary Expanded Service Areas (TESAs) to expire on June 1, 2022.
This means that if you have not made the service area under your TESA permanent by applying for a permanent structural change (e.g., applying for a patio), your TESA will expire on June 1, 2022 and you will not be able to sell or serve liquor in the expanded space.
It’s very important to note that it can take up to 10 months to get your application approved. Licensees who have not yet applied are now at risk of their TESA expiring before they can get approval for a new outdoor patio or structural change.
You can find more information on how to apply via the LCRB’s website.
Please note, not all TESA authorizations will be viable permanent patios. Before you apply and pay the fee, it is your responsibility to work with your local government and authorities to make sure the TESA you want to make permanent complies with all local permits, guidelines, bylaws and requirements.
To apply you will need:
An updated floor plan that clearly shows the structural change
These plans generally require an occupancy load
If you are a Liquor Primary or Manufacturer licensee, your structural change application will be sent to your local government for their comments.
To apply as a Liquor Primary or Food Primary licensee:
Log in to the liquor and cannabis licensing portal with a BCeID
Go to the "Licences and Authorizations" dashboard and find the licence you want to change.
Select:
"New Outdoor Patio" for an outdoor TESA or
"Structural Change Application" for an indoor TESA
Complete the application.
You can find more information here.
If you have questions about your expiring TESA or applying for a permanent structural change, we encourage you to contact a liquor licensing consultant. Check out the ABLE BC Buyer’s Guide for recommended consultants.
Reminder: Paid Sick Leave Survey & FAQ
There is still time to complete our industry survey on the new paid sick leave entitlement in BC.
We have heard your frustrations about the timing of this policy, which was introduced amid both a serious labour shortage and the peak of the highly-transmissible Omicron variant.
Participating in this survey will help us to better understand how this policy is impacting you and your business.
Responses are confidential and will be used only in aggregate.
This survey will be open until end of day today.
We have put together this FAQ to help you better understand this policy.
If you have any other questions about this policy, please reach out to us at info@ablebc.ca.
Vancouver Cocktail Week 2022
Tickets are on sale now for Vancouver Cocktail Week, March 6 to 10, 2022!
Presented by The Alchemist magazine, the inaugural Vancouver Cocktail Week will be held March 6 to 10, 2022, at venues across Vancouver. It will be a showcase of the city’s immense bartending talent, with events ranging from seminars, “Cinq à Sept” happy hours and cocktail-paired dinners to the closing Fun City gala at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver’s historic Roof. Vancouver Cocktail Week is also a proud supporter of the BC Hospitality Foundation (BCHF).
Click here for more information and to buy tickets.
ABLE BC in the News
ABLE BC’s Executive Director, Jeff Guignard, has been in the news recently.
Click here to see him speaking on CTV News about vaccine passports.
Click here to listen to Jeff speak with Al Ferraby on CFAX earlier this morning.