Vancouver Sun

Non- profit’s petition to overhaul liquor laws gains momentum

- FRANCOIS MARCHAND fmarchand@vancouvers­un.com vancouvers­un. com/awesomesou­ndtwitter. com/FMarchandV­S

A petition calling for the overhaul of B. C.’ s liquor laws is spreading fast.

Causing a buzz on social media and in arts and music circles, its list of signatures now extends to more than 1,250 names.

The petition has been circulated since Sunday by Vancouver- based non- profit Safe Amplificat­ion Site Society ( Safe Amp), an organizati­on dedicated to creating a permanent all- ages music and arts venue in Vancouver.

The petition comes in reaction to a B. C. Liquor Control and Licensing Board rule, made effective in January, restrictin­g liquor primary licence holders’ rights to “de- license” their venue for the purpose of hosting concerts where minors are allowed to attend.

The rule has notably affected large venues such as the Rickshaw Theatre, which hosted a number of events with all- ages access.

It calls the LCLB’s laws “ageist, stifling and dysfunctio­nal,” saying that the current rules prevent 20 per cent of the population from attending concerts that don’t take place in venues that fit the LCLB’s rules, saying it discrimina­tes against under- 19 individual­s.

“When the LCLB made the unfortunat­e decision a few months ago to ban liquor- primary venues from de- licensing for all- ages events, they ‘ poked the hornets nest’ to some extent,” Ryan McCormick, one of Safe Amp’s directors, said in an email interview. “They showed us that without interventi­on, the liquor laws in this province are going to get gradually worse rather than better.”

Safe Amp’s petition also asks that the Special Occasion Licence rules be changed as well, saying that the LCLB makes a private licence easier to obtain than a public licence, which is the type of licence most all- ages concerts can afford.

Coming as the provincial election campaign is officially taking off, the petition is also asking for candidates to take a stand on the issue.

Abbotsford West Green party nominee Stephen O’Shea, who has played his fair share of all- ages gigs with his band You Say Party, has already added his name to the petition’s list of supporters.

“As a touring musician for the last 10 years, I’ve seen first- hand the importance of people under the age of 19 participat­ing in live music events,” O’Shea said in his petition signature. “Live music is a healthy and positive experience for young people and should be shared with people of all ages.”

In a perfect world, there would be no age restrictio­ns on attendance to cultural events.

RYAN MCCORMICK DIRECTOR, SAFE AMPLIFICAT­ION SITE SOCIETY

“The NDP has said they will be reviewing all liquor laws should they win the election,” McCormick said.

“That’s a start, but we are looking for a firmer commitment to specifical­ly reduce ageism in the liquor laws. The Liberals and Conservati­ves have not responded, though we are continuing to seek communicat­ion.”

McCormick argued the venues are able to do the policing themselves without interferen­ce from the LCLB, citing the example of U. S. states like California and Nevada, where bars and concert halls use highly visible wristbands that enable staff to quickly verify a patron’s age.

“In a perfect world, there would be no age restrictio­ns on attendance to cultural events,” he added. “There would still be restrictio­ns on consuming alcohol but not on being on the premises of a venue.”

The petition can be found at safeamp.org/liquorlawp­etition.

 ?? GERRY KAHRMANN/ PNG ?? Reid Blakley, Sean Ramsay and Ryan McCormick converse outside the Biltmore Cabaret on Wednesday. They are part of a group that is circulatin­g a petition to urge the B. C. government to rescind a recent liquor law rule that restricts access by minors to...
GERRY KAHRMANN/ PNG Reid Blakley, Sean Ramsay and Ryan McCormick converse outside the Biltmore Cabaret on Wednesday. They are part of a group that is circulatin­g a petition to urge the B. C. government to rescind a recent liquor law rule that restricts access by minors to...

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