Weekly Liquor Industry Update: March 17, 2022

Dear ABLE BC Members and Industry Colleagues,

Here's what you'll find inside today's update:

  • B.C. Minimum Wage Increase

  • ABLE BC Board of Directors

  • TESA's Expiring Soon, Apply for a Permanent Patio NOW

  • Vancouver Streamlines Summer Patio Program

  • Vancouver IVSA Buyer's Salon

  • BCHF Scholarship Applications Now Open!

  • Save the Date: Charity Golf Tournaments Tee Off this Summer

  • ABLE BC in the News

Find all past updates here.

B.C Minimum Wage Increase

The B.C. Government has announced that effective June 1, 2022, general minimum wage is increasing from $15.20 to $15.65 an hour. This is the first increase to be tied to B.C.’s average annual inflation rate. This year’s rate is 2.8% and was calculated from January 1 to December 31, 2021.

We understand that the increasing minimum wage is an additional cost and burden to your businesses. But we are pleased that the province is tieing future increases to the rate of inflation.

We view this as a win! It means that increases to minimum wage will be predictable and reasonable, and we will no longer have $1 or more jumps in wage that are difficult to plan and budget for.

You can read the Government press release here.

ABLE BC Board of Directors

The ABLE BC Board of Directors had their first meeting of 2022 this week and elected new members.

We’d like to welcome our three new Directors: Mike McKee (JAK’s Liquor), Jessica Dolan (Ramada Penticton), and Owen Coomer (The Taphouse).

We’d also like to congratulate Yvan Charette (The Haney Hotel Group) for his new role as President and Poma Dhaliwal (Jolly Miller Pub and Liquor Store) for his new role as Vice President.

We thank Al McCreary (Hudson Bay Lodge) for his service as President over the past two years, and for his continued dedication to both ABLE BC and our industry as a whole. Al is now taking on the role of Treasurer.

We are looking forward to introducing and highlighting our Board of Directors in the coming weeks. Keep an eye on your inbox to learn more about our Board!

HELPFUL LINKS

ABLE BC Resources

Visit our COVID-19 Resources page for Liquor Primary COVID Best Practices, template signage, recent policy changes, and more.

READ MORE

Public Health Orders

Visit this page to download all current regional and provincial public health orders.

VISIT PAGE

BC's Restart Plan

Visit the BC Government website for more information on the four-step

Restart Plan.

READ MORE

go2HR Resources

Visit the go2HR website for COVID-19 FAQ for Employers, HR information and updates, and more.

READ MORE

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:

  1. Log in to the liquor and cannabis licensing portal with a BCeID

  2. Go to the "Licences and Authorizations" dashboard and find the licence you want to change.

  3. 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.

Vancouver Streamlines Summer Patio Program

On March 2nd, Vancouver opened applications for the 2022 Summer Patio Program. Since then, the city has received and listened to feedback from industry and is now streamlining the application process.

ABLE BC and BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association (BCRFA) have been working with municipal and provincial partners to ensure this process is as easy as possible for our members. We know that keeping the temporary patios built during the pandemic is essential to your profitability and guest experiences.

Key changes to the application process include:

Simplified drawing requirements

  • Businesses are no longer required to submit interior drawings or seating layouts for the City’s patio permit application, as long as no change in total occupancy is proposed.

  • For businesses that previously held a Temporary Expedited Patio Program permit, and are applying for the same patio as last year: You can re-submit the same drawing that was part of the TEPP permit.

  • For businesses who are applying for a patio for the first time, or are proposing to change their patio from last year: A simple scaled dimensioned exterior drawing is required. These don’t need to be done by a professional architect, do not need a professional stamp or seal, and can be done on computer or by hand – as long as they are accurate, to scale, and have dimensions and labeling.

Allowance to transfer up to 50% of existing seating capacity to a patio

  • For the 2022 summer patio season, the City will allow restaurants to transfer up to 50% of existing seating capacity from indoors to a patio. (This replaces the 20% transfer + up to 12 additional seats that was offered in the original program.) Total seating capacity for the restaurant must remain the same.

  • This transfer of seating gives restaurants more flexibility to offer outdoor dining options, as some patrons may not yet be comfortable dining indoors.

  • Important: To transfer seating to your patio, you must submit a completed Summer Patio Occupant Load form with your application.

  • For restaurants looking to increase their overall occupancy, please follow the application process on the City website – and expect it will take longer.

Allowance to extend curbside patios in front of neighbouring businesses

  • For the 2022 summer patio season, the City will continue to allow curbside patios to extend across up to one neighbouring business frontage, in either or both directions (similar to TEPP). A letter of consent is required from the neighbouring business. This will allow many restaurants to achieve the same patio they had last year.

  • Allowing patios to extend across neighbouring frontages also gives staff flexibility to create better solutions for the public realm, for example: to shift patios for City utilities, avoid trapped or partial parking spaces, and create loading areas and accessible parking spaces on the block.

Fees apply for all 2022 patio programs to cover administration costs, which include formalized requirements to ensure the patios are safely integrated into our public realm. Fees vary with the size, type, and location of patio.

Tips to Get Your Patio Permit Approved Faster:

  • Beat the rush: apply for a Summer Patio Permit as soon as possible.

  • Expect to begin the patio season with shifting up to 50% of your seats outdoors. Applying for additional overall seating capacity will take longer.

  • If you want a Year-Round patio, first apply for a Summer Patio permit, and then a Year-Round Patio permit later in the season. This will help avoid delays at the start of patio season.

Resources for Applicants

Vancouver IVSA Buyer's Salon

The Vancouver IVSA Buyer’s Salon is coming up soon! RSVP to admin@ivsa.ca now to sample products from 30+ liquor agents.

When: Monday, April 4th, 2022, 12:30-4:00 pm

Where: The Vancouver Club, 915 W Hastings Street

Please note, proof of vaccination will be required. Attendance may be restricted to the following: licensee buyers, proprietors, sommeliers, managers, chefs, media, and BCLS product consultants only.

The Victoria Salon is taking place on Wednesday, April 6th at the Rock Bay Powerhouse, 2110 Store Street.

RSVP to admin@ivsa.ca

BCHF Scholarship Applications Open Now!

The BC Hospitality Foundation (BCHF) is pleased to announce it is now accepting applications for the scholarships it administers. The deadline for most scholarship submissions is March 31, 2022.

In 2022, the BCHF scholarship program will be the largest ever, at over $65,000, and there are new scholarships dedicated exclusively to supporting members of underrepresented groups such as First Nations and members of the LGBT2Q+ community. All applicants must be committed to working in British Columbia for at least the next two years.

Click here for more information

Save the Date: Charity Golf Tournaments Tee Off this Summer

The BC Hospitality Foundation (BCHF) has announced the dates of this year’s fundraising golf tournaments. The inaugural Okanagan tournament will take place Tuesday, May 10 at the Harvest Golf Course, in Kelowna, the Vancouver tournament will take place Monday, July 4 at Westwood Plateau Golf & Country Club, and the Victoria tournament will take place Tuesday, August 23 at the Olympic View Golf Club.

Each of the tournaments offers a full day of food, drink, and enjoyment. Players partake of bites and beverages at many holes, there are tee prizes and putting contests, and a light breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included. The events are a great way to connect with old friends or to expand your network, as they bring together many members of the local hospitality community. It’s been 2 long years: let’s get our industry together to swing together!

The BCHF was formed on the idea that the hospitality community works together to help our own, and there are numerous ways for local businesses to support the fundraisers:

  • To inquire about sponsorship opportunities please contact Annabel at aaspler@bchospitalityfoundation.com

  • To donate items for the silent auctions and raffles please contact Mike at mike@bcha.com

  • Attending the tournaments is a great way to network or to build your team! Tickets will go on sale online shortly; tickets for each tournament will be $230 per golfer

Proceeds from the tournaments will support the work of the BCHF, which provides assistance for hospitality workers in financial crisis due to serious health conditions, as well as operating a scholarship program that fosters the next generation of hospitality industry leaders.

ABLE BC in the News

In case you missed it, ABLE BCs Executive Director, Jeff Guignard, has been in the news recently.

Ann Brydle