CITY OF VANCOUVER

City Hall
453 West 12th Avenue
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada V5Y 1V4

Telephone: (604) 873-7011
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca

Minutes of the two special Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission meetings held April 27 and May 5, 1999

BACKGROUNDER

Provincial Liquor Review

The Provincial government has employed a consultant to review current liquor regulations. In summary, the stated objectives were:

· simplification of rules and license classes so as to reduce the costs of red tape;
· evolution of the hospitality industry in a way that assists in the development of the B.C. tourism industry;
· harmonization of B.C. approaches to the control of alcoholic beverages and the hospitality industry with those of neighbouring jurisdictions; and
· development of a regulatory environment that meets today's social and health objectives.

Finance Minister Joy MacPhail has stated "... that our government is prepared to accept the review's recommendations, subject to successful consultations with municipalities...".

The consultant's recommendations and the Provincial press release are available at their website:
www.tsl-canada.com

City Process To Date

On April 13, 1999, Vancouver City Council received a staff report discussing the Liquor Review recommendations. City Council endorsed some recommendations in principle, opposed some recommendations, and requested clarification on others.

City Council voted to hold two special Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission meetings on April 27th and on May 5th, specifically to hear public input on the Provincial consultant's recommendations and the City's concerns.

The April 7, 1999, Policy Report which went to Council on April 13, 1999, is available on the City's website at www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/990413/rr1.htm or copies of the report are also available for pick-up at the City Clerk's Office, 3rd Floor, City Hall or at the two public meetings.

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Key Implications for the City of Vancouver

The key issues which the City has identified to date are:

1. City Council has identified the following key concerns which are not addressed in the review:

· the pressing needs to increase alcohol treatment and support resources before increasing the availability of alcohol. British Columbia's total costs related to alcohol abuse are over $900 million with law enforcement costs alone at $142 million;
· the impact of this review on policing costs and the responsibility of municipal government;
· the lack of broad public involvement into the processes.

2. City Council is concerned about recommendations that increase the availability of alcohol or potentially increase neighbourhood impacts such as:

· allowing straight drinking seats in 950 restaurants which could result in over 12,000 pub-like seats;
· minors accompanied by parents or guardians in licensed premises until 9 p.m.;
· increased seating in pubs and cabarets to the occupancy limit with no local government input which has the potential to add up to 1800 seats in cabarets alone;
· elimination of the 14 hours per day liquor service limitation;
· removal of requirement to operate rooms (which house low-income people) as a condition of hotel pub licenses.

3. City Council supports some recommendation subject to further consultation:

· eliminating red tape and unnecessary regulations;
· licensing of U-brews and U-Vins;
· consideration of community impacts before renewing a license;
· improved enforcement and a clear schedule of penalties;
· mandatory "Serving It Right" training for liquor servers;
· creation of a separate review of high potency alcohol products (ie, rice cooking wine);
· ability to vary the closing time of cabarets with municipal input.

Public meetings

Tuesday, April 27, 1999, 7:30 p.m.
Dunbar Community Centre
4747 Dunbar Street, Vancouver

Wednesday, May 5, 1999, 7:30 p.m.
Hastings Community Centre Auditorium
3096 East Hastings Street, Vancouver

If you wish to speak at either of these meetings, contact the Office of the City Clerk at 873-7276 or fax your comment to 873-7419.

Minutes of these meetings

(c) 1998 City of Vancouver