Weekly Liquor Industry Update: February 24, 2022
Dear ABLE BC Members and Industry Colleagues,
Here's what you'll find inside today's update:
ABLE BC Comment on the First Weekend of Eased Restrictions
BC Government Announces Budget 2022 for a Stronger BC
Free Member Q&A Webinar in Partnership with New Associate Member Perk Hero
The Quarterly Pour Seeking Members for Editorial Committee
Temporary Expansion to Eligibility for the Local Lockdown Program
TESA's Expiring Soon, Apply for a Permanent Patio NOW
Reach your Patio Potential Webinar
The Quarterly Pour Spring 2022 Issue Out Now
ABLE BC's 2022 Buyers' Guide Out Now
BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference
BCHF Scholarship Applications Now Open!
Wines of BC Ambassador Program
ABLE BC in the News
Find all past updates here.
ABLE BC Comment on the First Weekend of Eased Restrictions
What a weekend. After nearly 100 weeks of COVID restrictions, this past weekend was the first time patrons in BC’s pubs, bars, and nightclubs could mingle, listen to live music, and… dance! More importantly, we heard directly from many of you that it was an exciting, busy, and profitable weekend. This is incredibly good news and a positive sign about our industry’s prospects for long-term recovery. As one member wrote to me, “It feels like we’ve finally turned the corner and are getting back to normal!”
Obviously, ensuring patrons were still wearing masks in accordance with the provincial mask order was challenging. Fortunately, the most recent public health order governing our industry put that responsibility on patrons, not businesses. While you are obliged to do everything you can to inform patrons, failure to wear masks is the responsibility of patrons, not licensees.
It was also a big weekend for liquor retailers, who put up some huge numbers catering to what is obviously a lot of pent-up demand. We fully expect these trends to continue as the weather warms in the coming weeks.
The largest issue you reported was getting adequate staff. Unfortunately, that’s not likely to change anytime soon. While there’s little we can do to help you fill a shift this weekend, ABLE BC has partnered with a coalition of BC’s biggest hospitality and tourism associations to create a longer term Labour Recovery Framework. Go2HR has taken the lead on the project, and we have also requested support from our provincial government partners. Initial response from government has been positive, and we hope to have more details in the weeks ahead.
It was also a busy weekend of television and radio media, including some early morning television appearances by our Executive Director Jeff Guignard. You can see a list of those appearances at the end of this update.
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.
BC Government Announces Budget 2022 for a Stronger BC
On Tuesday afternoon, Premier John Horgan and Minister of Finance Selina Robinson announced BC’s Budget 2022.
While there were no announcements aimed at B.C.’s liquor and hospitality industries, Budget 2022 supports actions to fight climate change and to protect people and communities from climate-related disasters. In addition, the budget helps with the cost of living by reducing child care costs, delivering a comprehensive approach to respond to and prevent homelessness, making investments needed to close the digital divide and grow an inclusive and sustainable economy, and continues to strengthen the public services British Columbians rely on.
The budget is centered on three key themes:
• Building a stronger society by putting people first
• Building a stronger environment for our future
• Building a stronger economy for everyone
Budget 2022 earmarks $25 million in funding to support the tourism sector’s continuing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional funding will be available to support non-profit organizations affected by the pandemic; the recovery of the arts, culture and music sectors through the Arts Impacts and Amplify BC programs; and additional tourism supports, including funding to support the safe restart of fairs, festivals and events.
Click here to read the Government press release or here to read the highlights.
Free Member Q&A Webinar in Partnership with New Associate Member Perk Hero
Register now to join our upcoming Q&A webinar!
Time: Tuesday, March 8 at 10:00 am
Zoom Link: Here
During this free webinar, ABLE BC's Executive Director Jeff Guignard will discuss:
What the recent easing of COVID restrictions means for your business
Paid sick leave questions
A Labour Recovery Framework
What ABLE BC is doing in the immediate future to support your businesses during COVID-19
Progress update on other policy priorities
And more!
We will also be hearing from Justin Strange, of Perk Hero, on a new technology solution designed to help your businesses navigate the labour shortage.
Perk Hero's Digital Dine-In technology will help you beat the labour shortage. Bars, pubs, and restaurants across the country have been having trouble hiring front of house staff. Don't let a labour shortage hold your business back. Serve more guests and improve your profitability with Digital Dine-In.
ABLE BC members get 50% off for the first year
Contact Perk Hero at 855-661-3722 or sales@perkhero.com.
Click below to register, or reach out to Ann Brydle, Manager of Membership and Communication at ann@ablebc.ca.
The Quarterly Pour Seeking Members for Editorial Committee
The Quarterly Pour is the BC private liquor industry’s source of trends and leading-edge news. The publication is the official magazine of ABLE BC, distributed quarterly to every licensee in the province.
ABLE BC and EMC Publications are seeking volunteer members to join the editorial committee for The Quarterly Pour. This committee meets regularly to discuss the vision and direction of The Quarterly Pour and plan articles and ideas for upcoming issues.
We are seeking a diverse range of voices from both liquor primary and private retail members from across the province.
Editorial committee members will be responsible for:
• 1-hour quarterly conference calls
• Constructive feedback on current and past issues
• Article ideas covering a range of topics relevant to owners, managers, and staff of bars, pubs, and private liquor stores
If you are interested in joining the committee, please apply to Ann Brydle, Manager of Membership and Communication, at ann@ablebc.ca by Friday, March 11, 2022. Your application should include a brief letter explaining why you would like to join the editorial committee for The Quarterly Pour.
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.
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.