URGENT Update: Public Health Order Clarifications

Dear ABLE BC members and industry colleagues,

As you know, last week Dr. Henry announced additional St. Patrick’s Day restrictions for liquor primaries, food primaries, and liquor retail stores. The updated public order is now available: download here.

The public order is for food and liquor serving premises (restaurants, coffee shops, cafes, cafeterias, pubs, bars, lounges, nightclubs, liquor manufacturing facilities that have tasting rooms, and private clubs) and retail establishments, which sell liquor.

Highlights of the public order:

  • Owners and operators of liquor primaries operating as nightclubs must continue to cease operating as a nightclub.

  • Liquor sales for onsite and off-site consumption must cease between 8:00 pm on March 17, 2021 and 9:00 am on March 18, 2021. Liquor sales for onsite consumption must cease at 10:00 pm on all other dates and must not resume until 9:00 am the following day.

  • Unless a full meal service is provided, premises which are licensed to serve liquor must close between 9:00 pm on March 17, 2021 and 9:00 am on March 18, 2021, and between 11:00 pm and 9:00 am the following day on all other dates, and all patrons must vacate the premises. If a full meal service is provided, premises may stay open, but liquor service must not resume until 9:00 am the following day.

  • Liquor must not be consumed on the premises by any person, including patrons, owners, operators, or staff after 9:00 pm on March 17, 2021, and after 11:00 pm on all other dates.

  • Anything that is promoted for the purpose of encouraging patrons to attend at a premises to which this Order applies, such as a movie, film, televised sport or other televised event, a live or virtual musical, theatrical or dance performance, a live solo, group or band musical performance, a disc jockey performance or strip dancing, constitutes an event for the purposes of the application of the Gatherings and Events Order.

  • You must not engage in, permit, or promote any of the following with respect to or on your premises:

  • An event that is prohibited under the Gatherings and Events Order

  • The sale of advance tickets

  • An entrance cover charge

  • Door prizes or giveaways

  • Raffles

  • 50/50 draws

  • Decorations which are associated with an event

  • Staff in costumes which are associated with an event

  • Promotion of the sale of food or drink associated with an event

  • Owners and operators of retail establishments which sell liquor: you must not sell liquor between 8:00 pm on March 17, 2021 and 9:00 am on March 18, 2021.

For all conditions, please read the public order. If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact ABLE BC: info@ablebc.ca.

Costumes on St. Patrick’s Day

We understand there are concerns with liquor inspectors questioning staff wearing green shirts on St. Patrick’s Day.

ABLE BC has spoken with the LCRB and we understand their focus will be on enforcing public health order protocols that protect the public’s health and safety (i.e. physical distancing, patrons are seated, etc.). 

That being said, traditional St. Patrick’s Day ‘costumes’ will likely raise concerns among inspectors and we caution operators and staff against wearing them.

Updated Gatherings and Events Public Order

Last week, Dr. Henry also announced loosened restrictions for outdoor gatherings: up to 10 people can gather outdoors. For example: up to 10 people can gather at a park or beach or in the backyard of a residence. Do not gather with several groups of new people. Stick to the same people.

For clarity: patios and outdoor areas at restaurants, pubs, and bars are not included as places to gather with 10 people at one table. 

The amendment to the Gatherings and Events order (permitting 10 people to gather outdoors) does not supersede the restrictions that remain in place at restaurants and bars, which continue to have a limit of no more than 6 people at a table – indoors or out.

This clarification is now included on the BC province-wide restrictions website and was announced by Dr. Henry during yesterday’s press conference.

For more information, please refer to the updated Gatherings and Events public order.

Have a safe St. Patrick’s Day!

Like Super Bowl Sunday, there will unfortunately be additional scrutiny on our industry on St. Patrick’s Day. 

Ensure you have your COVID-19 safety plan readily available and up-to-date and are adhering to all public health protocols. We expect there will be more WorkSafeBC, liquor, and health inspectors out on St. Patrick’s Day. 

We know the majority of our industry is doing an incredible job adhering to the public orders and creating a safe, healthy, and enjoyable environment for patrons and staff.  It is vital that industry works together so customers and workers enjoy a safe St. Patrick’s Day.

Abiding by these protocols will help ensure our industry stays open and avoids new or stricter protocols.

We are in this together and we will make it through to the other side. If you have any other questions, please contact ABLE BC: info@ablebc.ca. 

Ann Brydle