Restaurants and pubs in B.C. will now permanently be able to sell and deliver packaged alcohol with meal orders.
The change was initially a temporary one at the outset of the pandemic to support the food and beverage industry.
"Making this authorization permanent will provide approximately 8,000 businesses with long-term financial support and certainty, and will aid in the hospitality industry's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General.
Before the pandemic, food and liquor primary licensees (e.g., restaurants and pubs) were authorized to sell liquor only for consumption in their establishments unless they had a special endorsement on their licence.
In March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, government temporarily authorized these licensees to sell and deliver sealed, packaged liquor products for off-site consumption with the purchase of a meal for takeout or delivery. Since then, government has extended the temporary authorization three times in response to requests from licensees, the industry and the public.
This is the second temporary authorization government has made permanent. In February 2021, B.C. announced restaurants, bars and tourism operators with liquor licences were able to purchase beer, wine and spirits at wholesale prices permanently.
