COVID-19 Update: November 12, 2021

Dear ABLE BC Members and Industry Colleagues,

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

  • Reminder: current provincial and regional public health orders

  • Food and Liquor Primaries can sell unmixed drinks with takeout or delivery

  • Updated COVID-19 workplace vaccination policy

  • Winter 2021 Issue of the Quarterly Pour is out

  • Last weekend to get your BC Hospitality Foundation 50/50 Tickets

  • Destination BC: Register for the Vancouver, Coast, and Mountains 2021 Industry Forum

  • 2022 ABLE BC Media Kit Available

  • Dolden Wallace Folick Insurance Seminar: November 25, 2021

  • December 13 Vaccination Requirements for LDB Service Providers

  • Collective Perspective 2021 with Bruce Anderson

Find all past COVID-19 updates here.

Reminder: current provincial and regional public health orders

The following provincial public health orders are currently in place:

The following regional orders are also in place:

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact ABLE BC: info@ablebc.ca.

Food and Liquor Primaries can sell unmixed drinks with takeout or delivery

Effective October 29, 2021, liquor and food primary licensees are permitted to package and sell unmixed drinks for takeout or delivery with the purchase of a meal, such as a glass of wine, cider, or draft beer, or an unmixed ounce of a spirit.

Maximum single-serving drink sizes specified in the license terms and conditions handbook apply.

The change responds to industry feedback from the Business Technical Advisory Panel and has the support of industry manufacturers following extensive consultation.

This additional choice for consumers builds on other measures government has approved in recent months to benefit liquor and food primaries. Earlier this year, liquor and food primaries were permanently allowed to sell full bottles of wine and spirits as well as mixed drinks packaged in single servings for takeout and delivery with the purchase of a meal.

This change will allow LPs and FPs to offer better value to customers, while focusing on their traditional role of selling individual beverages with meals. 

LPs and FPs are prohibited from acting like, or promoting themselves as, liquor retailers.

For more information, please read Policy Directive 21-21.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact ABLE BC: info@ablebc.ca.

Updated COVID-19 workplace vaccination policy

Can employers require that employees take the COVID-19 vaccine?

In May 2021, ABLE BC Associate Member and Lawyer Ryan Anderson, from Mathews, Dinsdale & Clarke LLP, offered some guidance for employers wondering whether they can mandate that their employees take the vaccine.

As the matter of vaccination in workplaces has evolved considerably since then, we asked Ryan to update the policy. 

An updated version of the COVID-19 workplace vaccination policy and a sample policy are now available for ABLE BC members. If you did not receive our email on November 2, please contact danielle@ablebc.ca for a copy of the updated policy.

Winter 2021 Issue of the Quarterly Pour is out

Read the Winter 2021 Issue of the Quarterly Pour

Feature articles in this issue:

The Quarterly Pour is the official publication of ABLE BC.

Last weekend to get your BC Hospitality Foundation 50/50 Tickets

The BC Hospitality Foundation is the only charity in Canada that ensures hospitality workers are taken care of by providing financial support when a health condition creates a financial crisis.

The BC Hospitality Foundation does not get government grants. All funds are raised by fundraising efforts, like their 50/50 lottery.

Ticket package options:

  • 5 for $10

  • 20 for $20

  • 150 for $40

Purchase your tickets now.

Destination BC: Register for the Vancouver, Coast, and Mountains 2021 Industry Forum

Join Destination BC for this year’s Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Annual Industry Forum: Wednesday, December 1 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm followed by an in-person networking event from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Glowbal Restaurant in Vancouver.

Virtual Industry Forum: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm on December 1

This year’s VCM Industry Forum will be held virtually, via Zoom. DBC will be sharing the latest updates from their teams, as well as featured guest speaker Carol Anne Hilton, Founder and CEO of the Indigenomics Institute.

A Zoom link to join the Forum will be circulated to registered delegates prior to the event.

Register nowThe registration deadline for the virtual forum is 12:00 pm on November 30.

In-Person Industry Networking Event: 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm on December 1

The informal industry networking event at Glowbal Restaurant (590 West Georgia, Vancouver) will follow later in the day from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. It is an opportunity to reconnect with industry colleagues and the VCM team in-person, over light refreshments. Space will be limited for this event and will follow the latest health and safety guidelines. 

Register nowThe registration deadline for the in-person networking event is 12:00 pm on November 26.

  • 2022 ABLE BC Media Kit Available

Our 2022 media kit is now available: download here.

Build your business with all the private liquor stores, pubs, and bars in BC by targeting owners and managers with the industry’s most respected trade media:

The Quarterly Pour: quarterly B2B magazine with articles on trends, operations, marketing, and human resources.

ABLE BC Buyers’ Guide: annual directory of ABLE BC Associate Members

ABLE BC Industry Update: weekly e-newsletter highlighting industry news, changing regulations, upcoming events, and more

ABLE BC website: continually updated site with details on government regulations, industry events. and more

For more information on advertising opportunities please download the media kit and contact EMC Publications: info@emcmarketing.com or 604-574-4577

ABLE BC Associate Members receive a 10% discount on advertising.

Dolden Wallace Folick Insurance Seminar: November 25, 2021

Join Dolden Wallace Folick LLP for a Year in Reflection: Insurance Seminar on November 25, 2021 at 8:00 am PT.

The seminar will cover:

COVID-19 Caselaw and Trends

A review of cases related to COVID-19 and trends, including: primary coverage issues arising from COVID-19 business interruption claims, UK Supreme Court & Appeal Court business interruption test case, and the status of COVID-19 litigation in Canada and the US.

Cyber Liability in Canada in 2021

A review of the legislation, recent cases, and trends, including: the increase in privacy class action litigation, recent class action decisions, and an overview of Bill C-11 and expanded punitive powers under the proposed legislation.

Top 10 Coverage Cases 

A review of coverage cases from across Canada addressing key issues that will provide useful guidance for underwriters and claim handlers, including: misrepresentation, concurrent duties to defend, interpretation of Faulty Workmanship exclusion, additional insureds, the distinction between an “insurance contract” versus “insurance policy”, and aggregate limits.

Register: please register for this virtual seminar by sending your RSVP to reception@dolden.com.

  • December 13 Vaccination Requirements for LDB Service Providers

The LDB is reaching out to all customers who have or will pick-up product from BC Liquor Stores, the LDB Distribution Centre in Delta, or the Wholesale Customer Centre Victoria.

On October 5, the BC Public Service Agency (PSA) announced the BC Public Service would require its employees to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 effective November 22, 2021. 

In line with this policy, PSA and the LDB requires any service providers or customers entering employee-only areas of our indoor workplaces to be fully vaccinated effective December 13, 2021. 

Please note that customers are NOT subject to this policy if they are only accessing the sales floor or hospitality pickup area of a BCL location, entering the LDB Distribution Centre in Delta hospitality pick- up area or the hospitality pickup or reception are of WCC Victoria. All are considered common areas. 

All visitors are required to continue wearing masks in all areas of all LDB workplaces and maintain physical distancing guidelines. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your servicing location. Thank you for your support and consideration.

Collective Perspective 2021 with Bruce Anderson

Join BC’s business community on November 18 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm PT for this insightful virtual event featuring one of Canada’s most respected pollsters, Bruce Anderson of Abacus Data. 

With over 1,300 responses, the BC Chamber of Commerce will share where businesses see cause for concern and provide insight into their longer-term vision for our economy. You’ll hear about trends in the BC economy and details on where both start-ups and established businesses are feeling bullish.

Register Today.

Ann Brydle