URGENT Update: Extension to Temporary Patios and Off-Site Sales
Dear ABLE BC members and industry colleagues,
We are happy to announce the provincial government will be extending the following policies:
Extended from October 31, 2020 to October 31, 2021: Temporary Expanded Service Area (such as patios)
Extended from October 31, 2020 to March 31, 2021: Liquor and Food Primary Off-Site Sales (sale and delivery of unopened liquor products with the purchase of a meal for takeaway or delivery)
These policy extensions are in direct response to the advocacy work of the Business Technical Advisory Panel, as well as ABLE BC and our industry partners the BCRFA and BC Craft Brewers Guild.
ABLE BC greatly appreciates the ongoing work of the Attorney General David Eby, staff, and the LCRB to support our industry in this time of crisis.
Policy Directive 20-26: Temporary Expanded Service Area Extension
In May 2020, the LCRB began permitting food primary, liquor primary, and manufacturer licensees to apply for a Temporary Expanded Service Area (TESA) authorization through an expedited, no fee, online process.
All TESA authorizations were originally set to expire on October 31, 2020. However, the Province has made amendments allowing for their extension to October 31, 2021.
The LCRB intends to extend all TESA authorizations. However, the branch will reach out to local governments to confirm their support for the extension of approved TESA authorizations in their jurisdiction prior to extensions being granted.
All licensees with current TESA authorizations and whose local governments support extension will be reissued authorization letters, automatically extending the expiry date of their authorizations, before October 31, 2020. Licensees must continue to comply with all local bylaws.
New applications for TESA authorization will be considered up until October 31, 2021. New TESA authorizations for liquor primary and manufacturer licenses must also receive the approval of local governments.
For more information, please read the policy directive.
Policy Directive 20-27: Extension of temporary authority for the sale and delivery of packaged liquor for off-site consumption with the purchase of a meal for take-out or delivery
Government has also approved an extension to the temporary authorization that allows food primary and liquor primary licensees to sell and deliver sealed, packaged liquor products alongside the purchase of a meal for off-site consumption.
This authorization, which was set to expire on October 31, 2020, has been extended to March 31, 2021, to continue to provide businesses with relief from the financial hardship of the pandemic.
For more information, please read the policy directive.
Helpful Links
If you have any other questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us: info@ablebc.ca.
-Jeff