There has been a lot of news in the past year bringing to light many problems that exist with BC's liquor laws and policies. From the Rio Theatre to the EXP bar, charitable wine auctions to interprovincial transport laws, we have heard stories of British Columbians struggling to run businesses and contribute to the cultural fabric of our province because of unnecessarily strict liquor policies.
I am writing to you today to say that I have had enough of the prohibitionist attitude of our current liquor laws and policies and demand a non-partisan review of the whole liquor licensing and distribution system. While I understand that this is a very large task, and will take time to undertake, there are also a number of changes that could be made today to improve the system for businesses, communities, and all British Columbians:
HAPPY HOURS: Allow Happy Hours in BC - we are the only jurisdiction in Canada without them.
SPECIAL OCCASION LICENSING: Remove discrepancies between outdoor and indoor events, remove the unfair and costly exemption process, and allow more freedoms in pricing and in offering spirits and other types of liquor products.
CREATIVE LICENSING: Create a new class for businesses that don’t fit the current liquor-primary and food-primary classifications - support theatres, art galleries, and other cultural spaces around the province.
PRODUCERS: Relax regulations on distilleries, breweries and wineries, allowing craft BC products and businesses to thrive. Ease restrictions on tasting rooms, and allow direct sale to bars and restaurants - create a level playing field for all BC producers.
These changes will go a long way in promoting a livelier and more social British Columbia. Our cultural groups, businesses, and communities face an unnecessarily restrictive liquor policy framework, and we need immediate as well as long-term action from our provincial government to address these issues.
