URGENT Update: St. Patrick’s Day Restrictions

Dear ABLE BC members and industry colleagues,

During this afternoon’s press conference, Dr. Bonnie Henry announced additional restrictions for liquor and food primaries on St. Patrick’s Day:

  • 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

  • Unless a full meal service is provided, premises which are licensed to serve liquor must close between 9:00 pm on March 17 and 9:00 am on March 18

  • 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

UPDATE: this change also applies to liquor retail. Liquor retail sales must stop at 8:00 pm on St. Patrick’s Day.

One year ago, our industry was completely shutdown on St. Patrick’s Day. Today, our industry is very experienced in adhering to stringent public health protocols and making it safe to dine out and drink out in BC.

We understand these additional restrictions are incredibly frustrating and damaging for your businesses, but because of the great work our industry is doing to keep patrons and staff and healthy, we were able to avoid more severe restrictions on St. Patrick’s Day.

ABLE BC, BCRFA, and Restaurants Canada have also been in regular joint discussions with the Provincial Health Officer and her staff about how licensed establishments can operate on St. Patrick’s Day.

We appreciate the faith government has in our industry to execute this day safely and responsibly, as well as the advance notice of restrictions, giving operators time to prepare and adapt.

Additional Inspections on St. Patrick’s Day

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

This morning, WorkSafeBC announced it will be stepping up its workplace presence ahead of the upcoming spring break period and St. Patrick’s Day to remind businesses they must have measures and controls in place to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace.

WorkSafeBC will be inspecting and consulting with businesses throughout the month of March when many families participate in spring break activities. The initiative will focus primarily on overnight and short-term accommodation, food and leisure services, amusement facilities, sports and entertainment facilities, ski hills, and golf courses. 

WorkSafeBC will also be launching an initiative focused on bars, pubs and restaurants ahead of St. Patrick’s Day on March 17.

All employers in BC are required to have a COVID-19 Safety Plan that assesses risks to workers and implements measures to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace. The plan must be reviewed and updated as conditions change.

To assist employers, WorkSafeBC has developed the resource: Reviewing and updating your COVID-19 Safety Plan.

For more information, please read the WorkSafeBC news release. We also expect there will be more liquor and health inspectors out on St. Patrick’s Day.

Do not promote St. Patrick’s Day as an event

Similar to Super Bowl Sunday, and based on the current Gatherings and Events public order, you must not host or promote anything resembling an “event” on St. Patrick’s Day.

For example:

  • Do not actively promote St. Patrick’s Day and/or any promotions, contests, specials, draws, etc. you may be holding on March 17

  • Do not have any promotional sales or anything that would make St. Patrick’s Day seem ‘special’ or out of the ordinary (i.e., like an event)

  • Do not have any giveaways, door prizes, raffles, draws, etc.

  • Do not sell advance tickets

  • Do not have an entrance cover charge

Reminder: adhere to all public health protocols

Remember, you must also continue to follow all public health protocols, including:

  • Patrons must be able to maintain a distance of two metres from other patrons unless they are separated by physical barriers

  • Patrons must be assigned to a table, booth, or counter and shown to their seats. Patrons must stay in the seat to which they are assigned, or at which they seat themselves, and must not move from table to table

  • Liquor may only be served to patrons who are seated

  • here must be no more than six patrons seated at a table or booth, even if they belong to the same party

  • You must determine the maximum number of patrons who can be accommodated safely on your premises and monitor that number

  • You must take steps to prevent the congregation of patrons inside and outside your premises

  • Background music, including live solo and live band music, and any other background sounds, including from televisions and electronic sound producing devices, must not be amplified and must be no louder than the volume of normal conversation.

For more information, please see the public order. 

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