Liquor Industry Update: December 9, 2021

Dear ABLE BC Members and Industry Colleagues,

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

  • Update for Liquor and Food Primaries: selling liquor with takeaway and delivery meals

  • Reminder of current regional and provincial public health orders

  • How will five days of employer-paid sick leave impact your business?

  • LDB Update on Ongoing Transportation Disruptions

  • Order Now: 2022 Drivers License ID Checking Guides

  • BC Hospitality Foundation 50/50 Lottery

  • Extension of Policy Directive: temporary authority for BC liquor manufacturers to direct deliver

  • Financial assistance expanded for people affected by flooding

  • November's On-Premise Alcohol Impact Report

  • BC Increased Employment Incentive: Applications Close December 31, 2021

  • Day in the Life of ABLE BC President: Al McCreary

  • How are Producers Reinventing Themselves?

Find all past COVID-19 updates here.

Update for Liquor and Food Primaries: selling liquor with takeaway and delivery meals

As you know, earlier this year, the provincial government permanently authorized liquor and food primaries to sell packaged liquor of all types for off-site consumption with a meal for takeout or delivery.

In July, government announced liquor and food primaries could also package and sell single-serving, pre-mixed drinks with a meal for takeout or delivery.

In October, the policy was further expanded to permit licensees to package and sell unmixed drinks for takeout or delivery, such as a glass of wine, cider, draft beer, or an unmixed ounce of spirit, with a meal.

For more information on the policy please refer to the Terms and Conditions Handbooks and the following policy directives:

This policy change was intended to provide long-term financial support to the hospitality industry and aid industry recovery from the pandemic. We know many of you use and fully comply with the policy.

Unfortunately, we have heard increasing reports of some licensees not abiding by the conditions of these directives. It is imperative that all licensees stop these non-compliant activities immediately.

To be clear: if you are selling liquor with takeout or delivery, it must be sold with a meal. (Note: this is separate from and does not apply to licensees with an actual off-sales endorsement on their license.)

While a meal has not been clearly defined by government, we ask that licensees use their common sense and judgment when it comes to defining a meal. For instance, a bag of chips or chocolate bar clearly does not meet the intention of the permission.

Government has expressed concern that some establishments are not following the rules and is calling on all licensees to voluntary comply with these policies. If industry fails to comply, government may introduce more stringent measures or remove the permissions altogether.

Licensees should also not be setting up self-serve, retail-looking spaces in their establishments. Compliance & Enforcement Inspectors are reporting that some Food and Liquor Primary licensees are setting up retail spaces where liquor is displayed in open refrigerated floor cabinets or open shelves accessible to patrons for self-service, which is contrary to the purpose of the license and inconsistent with the intention of the provision.

Food and Liquor Primaries who are offering liquor for takeaway with a meal must ensure the sale and service is consistent with how that liquor would be sold or served in the normal course of business - the liquor is kept under the care and control of the licensee or staff and is not accessible to patrons.

As we have previously noted, government will not allow this policy to unintentionally create over 8000 new liquor retailers. Liquor primaries and food primaries are prohibited from acting like, or promoting themselves, as liquor retailers. Government also recently extended the moratorium on new LRS licenses until 2032.

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

Reminder of current regional and provincial public health orders

The following provincial public health orders are currently in place:

The following regional public health orders are currently in place:

Additional resources on BC Vaccine Card:

LDB Update on Ongoing Transportation Disruptions

On December 9, LDB Wholesale Operations shared the following update on ongoing transportation disruptions:

We are pleased to share that product sourced from the LDB’s Delta Distribution Centre (DDC), including non-stocked wholesale products and bottle picks, are now available to customers serviced by the Kamloops Distribution Centre (KDC). An increased availability of transportation equipment and carrier capacity has enabled the LDB to resume this service.

We recognize the impact that this disruption has had on customers serviced by the KDC, and our distribution teams will continue to work diligently to ship orders as they are received to ensure products are delivered to wholesale customers as soon as possible, however, ongoing transportation disruptions may continue to result in delivery delays. We currently expect delays of up to two weeks from the scheduled delivery time.

The LDB distribution centres have regular inventory levels to supply customers in their regions, but customers may experience limited product availability due to disrupted transportation routes.

While we are continuing to use all available routes to ship product throughout the province, transportation routes continue to be slow.

We continue to work with our vendors, freight carriers, and the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission to transfer product and reroute shipment, including via northern BC and the United States, to ensure shipments are delivered to customers a quickly as possible.

Once again, we acknowledge the impact the past few weeks have had on customers, and we apologize for the inconvenience this has caused.

For more information, please download this memo for customers.

Order Now: 2022 Drivers License ID Checking Guides

The NEW 2022 North American ID Checking Guide Book and 14th Edition International ID Checking Guide Book are now available to order through the ABLE BC office.

The North American Guide has been updated for 2022. The International Guide has not been updated since 2021 but is valid through 2022.

Place your order HERE by Friday, January 21, 2022.

The ID Checking Guide Books help you and your staff make accurate, on-the-spot verification of driver's licenses and ID cards - your best protection against ID fraud. These books also help ensure you are kept updated on the latest versions of all ID formats.

For more information on the ID Checking Guide Books, including pricing please click here or download our FAQ.

BC Hospitality Foundation 50/50 Lottery

Please support our BC hospitality and tourism community by purchasing tickets to a Holiday 50/50 Lottery benefitting the BC Hospitality Foundation. This licensed lottery is being promoted only in our local hospitality and tourism community, so someone in or related to our industry will be the big winner!

Tickers are available at www.bchospitality5050.ca from December 8 to January 3 and make great gifts for coworkers and employees!

They're available in the following packages:

  • 150 tickets for $40

  • 20 tickets for $20

  • 5 tickets for $10

Funds raised by the lottery will be used to support individuals in the hospitality and tourism industry who are facing financial crisis due to a serious health condition experienced by themselves or a family member.

Extension of Policy Directive: temporary authority for BC liquor manufacturers to direct deliver

On December 3, 2021, the LCRB released Policy Directive 21-24: Extension of temporary authority for BC liquor manufacturers to direct deliver liquor to retail customers from registered off-site storage locations.

BC manufacturers have been temporarily authorized to deliver liquor to retail customers direct from their registered off-site storage locations. The policy was originally set to expire on December 31. It has been extended to March 31, 2022.

For more information, please click here.

Financial assistance expanded for people affected by flooding

Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) eligibility has been expanded for people affected by flooding and landslides from November 14 to December 2, 2021, and now includes British Columbians in the northwest, southwest, central, and southeast areas of the province and on Vancouver Island.

This assistance includes all Indigenous communities, electoral areas and municipalities within those geographic boundaries.

DFA is available to homeowners, residential tenants, business owners, farm owners, and charitable organizations that were unable to obtain insurance to cover disaster-related losses. By regulation, DFA is unable to compensate for losses for which insurance was reasonably and readily available. DFA will continue to assess each individual applicant by applying its existing legislative criteria in a fair and consistent way.

Emergency Management BC (EMBC) will accept applications until March 3, 2022.

British Columbians can access the DFA application online:

http://www.gov.bc.ca/disasterfinancialassistance

November's On-Premise Alcohol Impact Report

In the November issue of the COVID-19 Sales On-Premise impact Reports by CGA and Restaurants Canada, they are evaluating the velocity of sales in the on-premise, understanding the different dynamics across cities and provinces as the situation diverges and evolves, and the impact that this has on the recovery of the channel.

This update also includes research info into what consumers think about drink options, ways to support the on-premise, and viewing sports and upcoming events.

Download report.

BC Increased Employment Incentive: Applications Close December 31, 2021

Please be advised that applications for the BC Increased Employment Incentive must be received by December 31, 2021.

The BC Increased Employment Incentive is a one-time refundable tax credit for employers which encouraged the creation of new jobs for BC workers or increases in payroll for existing low or middle-income employees in the last quarter ending December 31, 2020.

The tax credit is calculated at 15% of the amount that the employer’s eligible remuneration for the last quarter ending December 31, 2020 exceeds the employer’s eligible remuneration for the quarter ending September 30, 2020.

For more information, including eligibility requirements and access to the application, visit gov.bc.ca/employertaxcredit

Day in the Life of ABLE BC President: Al McCreary

A common fixture in the BC hospitality industry, ABLE BC President Al McCreary has put in the time to earn the top seat. He was there in 2004 when ABLE BC transitioned from the Liquor Licensees and Retailers Association and was its second president in 2006. After nearly 20 years on the BC Hotel Association board, and a former hotelier himself, he has done it all.

Read more about a day in Al's life in the winter issue of the Quarterly Pour.

How are Producers Reinventing Themselves?

Producers are inventing new products to drive sales. Innovative offerings can help you encourage trial and increase sales.

The best way to add to the bottom line in your liquor store is to increase sales by getting customers to try new products. Displays, discounts, marketing, and promotions all do their part, but unless the bottles and cans on your shelves and in your coolers appeal to consumers, those strategies will have an uphill battle.

Fortunately, beverage manufacturers are keenly focused on increasing product appeal, investing significant resources to innovative their lines.

Learn more about how producers are reinventing themselves in the winter issue of the Quarterly Pour.

Ann Brydle