The service industry has been given the green light to expand hours to accommodate football fans looking to see Team Canada play.
The FIFA World Cup is in Qatar this year. For BC football fans, the 10-hour time difference between BC and Qatar will certainly affect how we cheer on our team.
“This is the first time that Canada has qualified for the World Cup since 1986,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General.
“In recognition of this, liquor primary establishments can extend their hours so soccer fans can support their team in a positive way with other fans, while also supporting the economic recovery of the hospitality sector coming out of the pandemic.”
There is a stipulation attached to that hour expansion though; there will be no change to the hours that liquor sales can occur as per each liquor primary establishment’s license.
Despite this, pubs and bars will be able to apply separately to extend their liquor license hours through the municipality they are located and through the province.
“You have to make a separate application to extend your liquor service hours, which we have,” Co-owner of Yates Street Taphouse, Grant Turner, told Victoria Buzz.
“We plan on opening for the Team Canada games, the quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals.”
“It’s a pretty big deal, we’re all pretty excited for it!”
Yates Street Taphouse has 25 televisions and is well known to football fans throughout Greater Victoria as one of the go-to spots to chant and cheer on their team.
They are just going through the motions to get their application to extend hours of liquor service approved.
“We did get approval from the city for it,” said Turner. “You have to get approval from your local municipality, then that goes toward a recommendation for the license.”
The FIFA World Cup is to be held in Qatar this year from November 20th to December 18th, and bars like Yates Street Taphouse are at the mercy of the 10-hour time difference, as well as the application process to be able to serve alcohol during the games.
