20 BCBUSINESS JULY 2014
W
Y
B . C .' S N E W S A N D V I E W S
F R O M I N D U S T R Y S E C T O R S
07/14
2 3 E N E R G Y
David Demers has
President Barack
Obama on his side.
front
lınes
R E T A I L
I
f the beer or wine you're enjoying at a wedding this sum-
mer tastes suspiciously subpar, you can raise your glass
to the province of B.C. for nally amending its antiquated
liquor laws. Allowing hosts of "special occasion licensed"
events to serve homemade beer and wine is one of seven
recommendations that was scheduled to be implemented
this spring and summer as part of a phased-in approach
to updating the Liquor Control and Licensing Act, which
will be completely rewritten in spring 2015. Other public-
facing changes for this year include alcohol sales at farmers
markets, purchase of liquor showcased at festivals, removal
of beer-garden fencing at events and time-limited drinks
specials (a.k.a. happy hour).
Throughout September and October 2013, parliamentary
secretary and Minister of Justice for Liquor Reform John Yap
and his review team held stakeholder meetings and scru-
tinized public feedback, which led to a nal report with 73
recommendations, all of which the province supported in an
announcement in January this year. What's left is for the B.C.
Bottoms Up, B.C.
Changes are coming to the province's
liquor laws, and the rst among them
could be alcohol at farmers markets.
But this new era of booze in B.C. is at
the mercy of the government's slowly
grinding gears
by Kristen Hilderman
CHRISTOPHER PORTER
p020-029-FL_july.indd 20 14-06-04 9:14 AM
