COVID-19 Update: July 2, 2020
Dear ABLE BC Members and Industry Colleagues,
We hope you had a happy, safe, and profitable Canada Day. Here’s what you’ll find inside today’s update:
LDB Update: Hospitality Product Catalogue Onboarding Process
Upcoming LCRB Policy Directive expiries
Updated Terms and Conditions Handbooks
Webinar on July 8: Wines of BC Explorer for ABLE BC Members
Accepting bottle returns: updated recommendations
Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance extended
COVID-19 Resources: Liquor Primary Reopening Best Practices and more
Find all past updates from ABLE BC here.
As always, if you have any additional questions or need to reach us you can email: jeff@ablebc.ca or danielle@ablebc.ca.
LDB Update: Hospitality Product Catalogue Onboarding Process
As you know, beginning July 20, 2020, hospitality customers will be able to buy at wholesale prices.
The LDB has shared the following update on the Hospitality Product Catalogue Onboarding Process. Please review this important information:
The first phase of the systems changes will be delivered by July 20, 2020 when hospitality customers will be able to buy at wholesale prices. Until July 20, 2020, all hospitality customers will continue to pay retail price.
The second phase will be completed by September 1, 2020 and will provide hospitality customers access to the wholesale price list through the fully functioning Hospitality Product Catalogue.
The Hospitality Product Catalogue will temporarily be unavailable until July 20, 2020 while the necessary updates are made to the system to incorporate the hospitality pricing change.
From July 20 through to September 1, 2020, a searchable wholesale price list file will be posted to the Catalogue as an interim measure to assist hospitality customers with their purchasing decisions until the Catalogue resumes its full functionality on September 1, 2020.
It is strongly recommended that hospitality customers register for their Hospitality Product Catalogue account as soon as possible in order to access the LDB wholesale price list starting July 20, 2020.
Details explaining the onboarding process for the Product Catalogue and step-by-step registration instructions are now available on the LDB Wholesale website. More detailed information on how to use the Hospitality Product Catalogue will be provided in the coming days.
Hospitality customers with Web Store accounts will have automatic access to wholesale prices via Web Store when they become available on July 20, 2020 and do not need to register for any additional online accounts.
While all hospitality customers will be contacted by LDB Wholesale, we appreciate your assistance in strongly encouraging your members to register as soon as possible to gain access to the Hospitality Product Catalogue.
Please read this update from LDB Wholesale for more details Hospitality Product Catalogue onboarding process.
If you have any questions about the onboarding process, please email wholesalehelp@bcldb.com or call 604-775-0681 / 1-888-775-0681.
Upcoming LCRB Policy Directive expiries
A number of policy changes have been implemented during COVID-19 to support businesses in this crisis.
Please note upcoming expiry dates for the following policies:
20-11: on April 3, the LCRB temporarily extended the hours of liquor service for LRS, Wine Stores and Special Wine Stores, and Manufacturer Onsite Store endorsements to no earlier than 7:00 am and end no later than 11:00 pm. This policy is in effect until July 15, 2020.
20-05: on March 31, the LCRB temporarily permitted liquor and food primaries to sell and deliver packaged liquor of all types from the service area for off-site consumption to patrons with the purchase of a meal, subject to new terms and conditions. This policy is in effect until July 15, 2020.
LDB 20-01: on June 5, the LDB temporarily authorized hospitality licensees who have temporarily closed to sell their liquor stock to other hospitality licensees who remain operational and/or Licensee Retail Stores. This policy is in effect until July 15, 2020.
We understand government is currently looking at whether any of these policies should be extended. We will provide you with any updates if the expiry dates change.
Other policies recently implemented include:
20-17: Dormant liquor licenses, prescribed circumstances for extension to dormancy
20-16: Conversion of Independent Wine Stores to Licensee Retail Stores
20-15: Cannabis Licensing Regulation amendment – non-transparent walls
20-14: Non-medical Cannabis Worker Training Program effective September 30, 2020
20-13: Temporary Expanded Service Area Authorization expiring October 31, 2020
20-12: Extending Authorization for Distilleries, Breweries & Wineries, manufacture, packaging, sale and donation of alcohol-based hand sanitizer and sanitizer to December 31, 2020
20-07: The sale of draught beer and the meaning of the word “packaged.” This policy is related to 20-05 and is in effect until July 15, 2020.
20-04: Non-Medical Cannabis Retail Store Product Reservations
View all LCRB policy directives here.
Updated Terms and Conditions Handbooks
The LCRB has recently updated the Liquor License Terms and Conditions handbooks to reflect policy changes:
Liquor Primary Terms and Conditions: revisions to structural changes and dormancy
Licensee Retail Store Terms and Conditions: revisions to dormancy
Find all handbooks here.
Webinar on July 8: Wines of BC Explorer for ABLE BC Members
On July 1, the BC Wine Institute launched a new app called the Wines of BC Explorer. The app includes a ‘Where to Buy’ retailer listing feature that can help drive customers to your store and increase their confidence to purchase a wine they will enjoy.
The Wines of BC Explorer takes the guesswork out of buying wine by matching a consumer’s personal taste preferences to a database of all BC wines, resulting in an easy to navigate, personalized wine list.
Wines are displayed in customized lists that show both the percentage match and a list of the closest retail locations where they can be purchased. The matching accuracy is greater than 80%.
Join ABLE BC and TasteAdvisor for a free webinar on Wednesday, July 8 at 10:00 am.
RSVP for the webinar please email Danielle: danielle@ablebc.ca.
This webinar will provide an overview of how the new app will look and show retailers how they can use the tool to accelerate sales.
BC’s Alliance of Beverage Licensees has negotiated a special listing price for their members, and we are excited to share this opportunity with you.
RSVP now and join us on Wednesday!
Accepting bottle returns: updated recommendations
In March, BC Liquor Stores temporarily suspended the return of empty drink containers. At the time, ABLE BC encouraged our members to do the same, as an additional precaution to take in protecting the health and safety of your employees.
Effective June 1, customers can use their reusable containers, bags, and boxes at BC Liquor Stores.
In addition, the BC Centre for Disease Control no longer recommends suspending reusable containers.
However, as a safety precaution, BC Liquor Stores staff will not be physically handling any reusable containers. If a customer wishes to use their own reusable bag or container, staff will ask the customer to bag his or her own purchases. Also, reusable containers cannot be placed on counters for sanitary reason.
We encourage members to revisit their policies and accept the return of empties.
If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact ABLE BC: info@ablebc.ca.
Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance extended
Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses provides relief for small businesses experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19.
The CECRA has been extended through the end of July 2020. Property owners and small business tenants will soon be able to access funding for the month of July.
What you need to know:
Only those tenants approved in the April, May and June application are eligible for the July extension.
If a business had an average revenue decline of 70% or more in April, May and June, they are deemed eligible for the additional month of rent relief. However, not all tenants in the original application need to be included for the July extension.
For more information on the application process and to sign-up for updates please click here.
COVID-19 Resources: Liquor Primary Reopening Best Practices and more
ABLE BC is here to help your liquor business as we move into a post-COVID-19 world.
Since the global outbreak, ABLE BC has been closely monitoring developments related to COVID. We’ve been working hard to ensure our industry has all the necessary information to safely operate and survive this crisis.
Visit our COVID-19 page for resources, templates, and signage to support your business during this time. You’ll also find our newly updated Liquor Primary Reopening Best Practices Handbook.
Download the handbook here.
For more information:
Public Health Agency of Canada Website
Updates from the Government of British Columbia
News Releases from BC Government on COVID-19
Provincial Health Officer Public Health Orders
Updates and Resources from WorkSafeBC
Restaurants, cafes, and pubs: reopening protocols
Updates and Resources from ABLE BC
Liquor and Hospitality Industry Information: EnrichEntrepreneur.com
Human Resources & Occupational Health & Safety Info from go2HR
If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact ABLE BC:604-688-5560 or info@ablebc.ca.