COVID-19 Update: July 7, 2020
Dear ABLE BC Members and Industry Colleagues,
Here’s what you’ll find inside today’s update:
Recap of last week’s updates
Free Webinar Tomorrow: Wines of BC Explorer for ABLE BC Members
Reminder: register for LDB Hospitality Product Catalogue by July 20
LDB Wholesale Update: returns due to permanent business closure
Vancouver Park Board delays decision on allowing liquor at select parks
Best Practices: handling empty returns
Best Practices: pool tables
WorkSafeBC: Prevention Services data for COVID-19
FAQ: serving American customers
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.
Recap of last week’s updates
Here’s what you may have missed from ABLE BC last week:
Update on June 30:
COVID-19 Resources: Liquor Primary Reopening Best Practices and more
Conversion of Independent Wine Stores to Licensee Retail Stores
New Policy Directive: Dormant liquor licenses, prescribed circumstances for extension to dormancy
LDB Wholesale Update: Limited Bottle Pick Service Expands
Provincial Health Officer Public Order clarification: 50 patrons at events
City of Abbotsford Update: Patio Permitting
Destination BC Summer Campaign
Sugar Tax Update: policy change delayed
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
Find all past updates from ABLE BC here.
Free Webinar Tomorrow: 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 tomorrow (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 tomorrow!
Register for LDB Hospitality Product Catalogue by July 20
As you know, beginning July 20, 2020, hospitality customers will be able to buy at wholesale prices.
The first phase of LDB 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.
From July 20 through to September 1, 2020, a searchable wholesale price list file will be posted to the Hospitality Product Catalogue as an interim measure to assist hospitality customers with their purchasing decisions until the Catalogue resumes its full functionality on September 1, 2020.
To access wholesale pricing you must register for the Hospitality Product Catalogue before July 20. There is no other way to know the wholesale price.
Learn more and register here.
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.
For more information please read the LDB Wholesale update.
LDB Wholesale Update: returns due to permanent business closure
The Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) is updating its wholesale and hospitality customer return guidelines related to permanent business closures.
In addition to the current return guidelines, wholesale and hospitality customers who are returning product due to a permanent business closure are now required to present a copy of official documentation (Notice of Cancellation or Dormant Licence Notice) received from the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) confirming their license status is dormant or cancelled.
The return guidelines can be referenced in the customer and order handbooks on the LDB Wholesale website.
Please contact wholesalehelp@bcldb.com or call 604-775-0681 / 1-888-775-0681 if you have any questions concerning the return guidelines change.
Vancouver Park Board delays decision on allowing liquor at select parks
On Monday evening, the Vancouver Park Board (VPB) discussed a bylaw amendment that, if passed, would allow for a pilot program to test public alcohol consumption at local parks.
The Park Board unanimously voted to defer the decision, however, asking staff to “further work to expand and improve the program.”
According to the VPB’s Twitter, a number of improvements were suggested for the program, including that it be expanded to “include at least one park in each of Vancouver’s 23 neighbourhoods.”
The board also suggested a revision that would ensure that alcohol in parks “only be consumed with a meal” and that “all pilot sites provide adequate space for physical distancing.”
The deferral means that a decision won’t be made for nearly two weeks, with staff expected to report back during a meeting on July 20.The pilot program was developed to be launched in mid-July and is scheduled to carry over until later this October.
Port Coquitlam and North Vancouver have already launched similar initiatives.
Best Practices: handling empty returns
BDL has shared with us the following resources on safely handling empty returns:
OHE Consultants: Information on surface contamination risk and COVID-19
Classes of microorganisms ranked according to susceptibility to disinfectants
Best Practices: pool tables
We have received a number of questions from members about whether or not pool tables can be used by customers as you reopen your establishments.
The WorkSafeBC protocols and Provincial Health Officer Public Order do not specifically address or ‘ban’ the use of pool tables.
If you choose to allow customers to use them, we recommend doing the following:
Allow one party of six patrons or less to use the pool table at a time
If patrons are not in the same party, they must be able to maintain a distance of two meters from other patrons
Sanitize pool table and all equipment between one party and the next
Post signage around the pool table explaining the protocols you are following
Ensuring you are following all other public order conditions
For more information on Liquor Primary Reopening Best Practices, visit our COVID-19 resources page.
WorkSafeBC: Prevention Services data for COVID-19
According to a recent report, WorkSafeBC has issued 320 orders to businesses in the province for violating COVID-19 safety measures.
WorkSafeBC has also conducted more than 12,000 worksite inspections related to COVID-19, as part of a province-wide inspectional initiative.
“The focus of our inspections has been to ensure employers have a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place. This plan needs to assess the risks to workers, and implement measures to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace,” said Ivy Yuen, Media Relations WorkSafeBC, in a statement to Daily Hive.
“Enforcement measures will be considered if employers are not taking measures to protect workers from COVID-19 exposure. Orders are issued as a result of an inspection or can be part of follow-up activity,” said Yuen.
Of the 320 orders issued, 101 have been issued to the service sector (e.g. hotels, restaurants, gyms, hospitals, schools, real estate, and hair salons). Find the full Prevention Services data for COVID-19 here.
For more information:
FAQ: serving American customers
As you know, travel precautions and restrictions are currently in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The restriction of all non-essential travel at the Canada-US border was recently extended to July 21, 2020. Additional screening measures are in place at key points of entry.
Unless exempt, travellers returning to Canada are also required to complete and submit a Self Isolation Plan. Any visitor who arrives from outside of Canada must quarantine for 14 days.
US Travellers through BC: travel to Canada from the US for non-essential reasons, such as for tourism, recreation or entertainment, is currently prohibited. Unless exempted, if you do not have a non-discretionary (essential) reason to travel to Canada, a border services officer will deny you entry.
Exemption for travel to Alaska: The Canada Border Service Agency is permitting individuals to enter Canada to travel directly to Alaska or from Alaska to mainland US, with the expectation they proceed directly to their destination and self-isolate during any necessary overnight stops.
Exemption for US travellers with immediate family members in Canada: If you are an immediate family member of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you are exempt from travel restrictions and can enter Canada from the United States and from another country if you meet entry requirements.
Penalties and fines: there are penalties and fines for providing false immigration information or false information about the purpose of travel.
Anyone with information on suspicious cross-border activities is encouraged to call the CBSA Border Watch Line (1-888-502-9060).
To report violations of the Quarantine Act (such as failure to abide by the mandatory 14-day quarantine or isolation upon entry to Canada), persons should contact the Public Health Agency of Canada or the police agency of jurisdiction.
Members of the public should note, however, that there may be a legitimate reason for the presence of a US resident or US-plated vehicle in Canada.
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.