Businesses with only outdoor patio seating can now apply to offer liquor service, the province announced today.
Previously, patios could only be licensed to serve liquor if they were attached to an indoor venue which held a liquor licence. Now, businesses with a suitable outdoor space can apply to operate a licensed patio even if the establishment has no other licensed areas.
This change enables eligible seasonal outdoor restaurants, concessions and resorts throughout the province to expand their businesses, supporting B.C.’s growing beer, wine and liquor industries.
For a patio to become licensed, it must comply with local zoning, adjoin a permanent structure that is affixed to a foundation, be plumbed and wired to meet licence requirements, and the perimeter must be properly defined and enclosed to easily control the flow of patrons entering and exiting the establishment.
In 2013, the Liquor Policy Review put forward 72 recommendations to modernize B.C.’s liquor laws. 43 of those recommendations have been implemented with more to come this year, the province said in a release.
