The ministry confirmed that all liquor products sold by hospitality customers, specifically bars and restaurants, must be purchased through the provincial liquor distribution branch’s wholesale centre, BC Liquor Stores or through an authorized manufacturer.
Unlawful seizure
“Seizures are the result of careful investigations when, in the opinion of liquor inspectors, liquor is possessed or kept contrary to the (Liquor Control and Licensing Act) and regulations.”
January 21, 2018
“It seems to be to be an important issue that bars or restaurants that specialize in exotic products that they can’t get through the public wholesaler, that they should be able to access that product legally,” Eby said on a call with reporters.
“But that is an issue of law reform, and that law reform has not happened yet.” It’s not law reform if the General Manager has the power to grant any licensee alternate purchase locations
Dear Mr. and Ms. Fergie:
Thank you for your emails of January 30, February 9 and February 15, 2018. I am responding on behalf of the Honourable Shane Simpson, MLA for Vancouver-Hastings, the Honourable Jinny Sims, Minister of Citizens’ Services and the Honourable Katrine Conroy, Minister of Children and Family Development. Please accept my apology for the delay in responding.
I appreciate your sharing your perspective on some of the issues facing your industry right now, and how those issues may be addressed. As you may know, I appointed a Special Liquor Policy Advisor, Mr. Mark Hicken, who chairs a Business Technical Advisory Panel (the Panel). The Panel was tasked with consulting various liquor industry stakeholders to gather input on potential legislative and policy reforms. I look forward to receiving the Panel’s recommendations at the end of April and reviewing the recommendations with my colleagues.
Government shares your vision for a vibrant, growing liquor industry that meets the needs of business owners, their staff and families, and consumers. Thank you again for sharing your views on issues of importance to your business.
Yours truly,
David Eby, QC
Attorney General
pc: The Honourable Katrine Conroy
The Honourable Jinny Sims
The Honourable Shane Simpson, MLA
January 17, 2019
“The challenge for us is that the legalization of cannabis happened at the same time and we have been full out with that in terms of licences and supply,” Eby said.
“It is one of the priorities for me that liquor works better for the hospitality industry.”
One of the biggest groups opposed to changing the current distribution model are the public sector unions who staff the Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB). Eby says their concerns must be weighed like everyone else.
“When you have issues around the safety of workers and the fair treatment of workers there are different things to balance and we are doing that now,” Eby said.
In a December 2017 speech, Attorney General David Eby emphasized that the NDP government is placing a premium on enforcing laws and regulations.
January 22, 2018 B.C. Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver, said on Twitter:
“It’s absolutely outrageous that the B.C. Govt take no steps when there is clear evidence for questionable activity in our real estate sector yet they throw the book at a few folk sampling fine single malts. Someone needs to give their head a shake.”