UPDATE: Liquor Retail Stores can sell to Special Event Permits

Dear ABLE BC members and industry colleagues,

This afternoon, the provincial government announced a significant liquor policy change: for the first time in our industry’s history, private liquor retailers can sell to Special Event Permit holders.

Read the government news release here.

With this change, the following licensees can sell liquor products to SEP holders:

  • BC Liquor Stores

  • Licensee Retail Stores

  • BC wineries with an onsite store

  • BC breweries with an onsite store

  • BC distilleries with an onsite store

  • Wine Stores (excluding Sacramental Wine Stores)

  • Special Wine Stores

  • Rural Licensee Retail Stores

Important note for Rural Licensee Retail Stores: an RLRS no longer requires general manager approval to sell product to SEP holders.

The inclusion of Licensee Retail Stores, Wine Stores (excluding Sacramental Wine Stores), Specialty Wine Stores and Rural Licensee Retail Stores will provide additional support to liquor retailers and provide SEP holders with more choice in liquor selection and where they can purchase their liquor.

This change not only introduces a new revenue stream for private liquor retailers, it also corrects the previous unfair policy of forcing consumers to purchase only from government’s BC Liquor Stores.

For more information, please read the government news release and Policy Directive 21-15.

Positive change through partnership

Although industry has been seeking this change for years, today’s announcement comes as a direct result of of ongoing advocacy efforts by ABLE BC and the Business Technical Advisory Panel (BTAP).

ABLE BC has been proud to work alongside the other members of BTAP, which was been advising government on liquor policy reforms since 2018 and throughout this COVID crisis.

More policy work underway

In addition to this policy change, work is underway by government on several other measures identified within BTAP’s report. We will share more information with you as it becomes available.

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

Ann Brydle