BEER AND A TRIM?

Liquor licensing expands

A number of changes to B.C.’s liquor laws came into effect Monday, including one that will allow all types of businesses — such as barber shops, art galleries and spas — to apply for liquor licences.

However, the public won’t notice the vast majority of those changes right away because municipal governments have the final say about what takes place in their communities.

“People are mistaken if they believe they’re going to walk into a barbershop or salon today and have a beer or a glass of wine. It still requires sign-off by the municipalities,” said Vancouver-Point Grey NDP MLA David Eby, the opposition spokesperson for liquor. “Plus, there’s no guarantee people think this will be a useful part of their business model.”

In 2013, the province conducted a Liquor Policy Review, which resulted in 73 recommendations to update old laws. To implement several of those recommendations, legislative changes had to be made. The new Liquor Control and Licensing Act came into effect Monday.

To date, 64 recommendations have been implemented.

Eby said the regulatory changes have broad support, but the province has had issues implementing some of the changes. One policy change drove up craft beer prices. Another one, related to wine sales in grocery stores, sparked a trade challenge by the U.S. government.

Vancouver is looking at its own liquor laws. Over the past decade or so, the city has made some incremental changes — some in response to the provincial liquor policy review — but it embarked on a more comprehensive process a couple of years ago. It’s expected the liquor policy review will be back before council in March, after staff have prepared policy advice.