New liquor laws announced today in Victoria will allow alcohol to be sold in barber shops, spas, art galleries, cooking schools and book stores among others.
The province announced policy changes that will allow all types of B.C. businesses to apply for a liquor licence, opening up possibilities for new revenue streams and diversified services.
Effective Jan. 23, 2017, businesses will be able to apply for a liquor primary license, so long as they do not operate from a motor vehicle or target minors.
This province said in a release, this change will provide flexibility for merchants to expand and offer new services to their patrons, while creating new opportunities for manufacturers such as craft breweries and wineries to sell their product, and increase consumer choice for British Columbians.
To ensure that public health and safety remains a top priority, those applying will have to go through the same licensing processes as other establishments, including a requirement that all staff serving liquor are ‘Serving-It-Right’ certified.
Licensees will also be subject to the same regulatory compliance measures. The requirement that those applying for a liquor primary licence must also abide by their local government’s or First Nations’ liquor licensing criteria, will remain unchanged.
The new policy builds on recent changes announced by the province that allow for-profit businesses to apply for special event permits, which were previously reserved for individuals and not-for-profit organizations.
