Updated Public Order for Food and Liquor Serving Premises
Dear ABLE BC members and industry colleagues,
The updated public orders for Food and Liquor Serving Premises and Gatherings and Events are now available. The public orders were updated to reflect the restrictions that lifted on Monday, October 25.
Food and Liquor Serving Premises Public Order
The order is directed towards restaurants with table service, cafes, food primary or liquor primary establishments, including pubs, bars, lounges and nightclubs, liquor manufacturing facilities that have tasting rooms with seating, and private clubs.
Highlights of the public order:
The requirement for patrons to remain seated has been removed. Patrons are also allowed to mingle and move between tables.
However, if patrons consume food or drink on the premises, there must be sufficient seating for them, whether at a table, booth or counter. Patrons must be assigned a table, booth or counter, and shown to their seats.
ABLE BC has verbally confirmed with the PHO that the requirement for patrons to be assigned a seat will be removed from the public order this week. We will let you know once this happens.
Dance floors must be closed with physical barriers or occupied with tables, unless they are being used for a dance performance.
A patron must not dance on the premises.
A food service establishment with a liquor license which does not have table service, and which only sells liquor for takeaway, does not have to check for proof of vaccination.
Patrons are still required to wear a mask when standing, but can remove it to eat or drink.
For more information, please read the public order.
Gatherings and Events Public Order
Outside Events: there are no changes to the rules for outside events
No more than 5,000 persons, or 50% of the seated capacity of a place, excluding event staff, whichever number is greater, are present.
Participants are seated throughout the place in such a way to use all available space
For full conditions, please read the public order.
Inside Events:
Updated capacity restrictions: up to 100% of the of the seated operating capacity of a place may be used for the purpose of a seated inside event, and up to 100% of the standing operating capacity of a place may be used for the purpose of a standing inside event.
If the event is described in paragraph a, c, d, or e of the definition of inside event (see page 4) there is seating available for each participant, and each participant is provided with a seat.
Dance floors are closed with physical barriers or occupied with tables, unless they are being used for a dance performance.
Participants do not dance unless they are registered participants in and attending a dance class at a dance studio or a recreation facility, or a child or youth participating in a program for children or youth.
Patrons are still required to wear a mask when standing, but can remove it to eat or drink.
For full conditions, please read the public order.
Proof of vaccination:
Gatherings and events that previously had to require proof of vaccination continue to be required to do this:
“An organized standing gathering of more than 50 participants in an inside place for social, recreational or business purposes, including the unseated portion of a conference, convention, commercial trade fair, home show or sponsored ticketed party”
“An organized gathering of any number of participants in an inside place for the purpose of an adult sports activity, an adult exercise or fitness activity or class, or an adult dance class”
Skating rinks had been exempted previously, but now inside skating rinks will now have to check for proof of vaccination
For full conditions, please read the public order.
Reminder of regional orders in effect
The following regional orders remain in effect and supersede the provincial public orders:
Gatherings and Events for Northern Health Authority
The order applies to the entire Northern Health Region, with the exception of the local health areas west of Kitwanga, which comprise Terrace, Kitimat, Haida Gwaii, Prince Rupert, Stikine, Telegraph, Snow Country, and Nisga’a.
Personal gatherings indoor and outdoors will be restricted to fully vaccinated people only
Personal indoor gatherings are limited to 5 people and outdoor personal gatherings are limited to 25 people
All indoor and outdoor organized gatherings require a COVID-19 safety plan, everyone must wear masks, and everyone must be fully vaccinated
Organized indoor gatherings are limited to 50 people and organized outdoor gatherings are limited to 100 people
Worship services are limited to virtual services
Liquor and food primaries that offer full meal service can remain open and offer indoor dining, but must continue to check for BC Vaccine Cards. Alcohol service must end at 10:00 pm.
Bars, pubs, and nightclubs that do not offer full meal service must close
No person may operate a premises as a nightclub
Previously announced regional restrictions in Northern Health (effective September 7) will also remain in place. Businesses must also comply with provincial public health orders:
For full conditions, please read the public order.
Gatherings and Events for Fraser Health Authority
The order applies to Hope, Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Mission, and Agassiz/Harrison.
Social Gatherings at Private Residences and Vacation Accommodations
Private indoor gatherings are limited to five additional people or one additional household
Private outdoor gatherings are limited to 10 people unless all participants are fully vaccinated
Proof of Vaccination for Events
Despite any lesser restrictions under the Provincial Gathering and Events Order, a person must not organize, host, attend, officiate at or permit a place to be used for an event unless all participants age 12 and older have been fully vaccinated, and the organizers and participants comply with their respective obligations for obtaining and providing proof in the form required under Part D (Proof of Vaccination) of the Provincial Gathering and Events Order that such participants are fully vaccinated.
An event is defined as a gathering of more than 10 participants indoors or more than 50 participants outdoors. I.e., if you host an indoor gathering of more than 10 people indoors or more than 50 people outdoors, everyone must be fully vaccinated.
Except where they are less restrictive than the requirements of Part B.1 in the regional order, the restrictions and requirements relating to events set out in the Provincial Gathering and Events Order continue to apply
For full conditions, please read the public order.
Gatherings and Events for Interior Health Authority
This order applies to the entire Interior Health region.
Social Gatherings at Private Residences and Vacation Accommodations
Private indoor gatherings are limited to five additional people
Private outdoor gatherings are limited to 50 people
Outside Events with Proof of Full Vaccination
No more than 5,000 persons, or 50% of the seated operating capacity of a place, excluding event staff, whichever number is greater
Inside Events with Proof of Full Vaccination
No more than 50 persons, or 50% of the seated operating capacity of the place, excluding event staff, whichever number is greater
Participants stay in the seat to which they are assigned, and do not move from seat to seat
For full conditions, please read the public order.
If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact ABLE BC: info@ablebc.ca.