LIQUOR LICENCE REQUIREMENTS

When you receive your liquor licence, you will be entitled to serve liquor to your customers.  You must however, comply with certain regulations when you buy and sell liquor.  If you don't, you may lose the right to serve liquor. 

YOU MUST BUY YOUR LIQUOR FROM APPROVED SOURCE

The liquor you sell must be bought from one of the following establishments:

• A government liquor store
•  A rural agency store
•  An approved independent winery or brewery 

You are not permitted to purchase or import liquor independently, nor are you permitted to buy liquor at an independent liquor store. This regulation assures the quality of liquor sold in BC.

PRICING YOUR DRINKS

• You cannot sell liquor for less than you paid for it. If a bottle of wine costs you $15.00, you cannot sell it for any less than $15.00
• You cannot change the price of any liquor throughout the day (2 for 1 or happy hour reduced drink prices are not legal in BC). The price you set at the start of the day must be the same all day.  You may offer a drink special of the day, but it must be available all the hours you are allowed to serve liquor

MIXED DRINKS

• Drinks must be poured from the original container and mixed drinks must be made where the guest may watch.  The drink does not have to be mixed in front of the guest, but must be made in an area the guest could watch if they chose to.

DRINK SIZES & QUANTITY

Drink serving sizes are regulated..You must not serve more than the regulated amount in one serving.

• Beer - the maximum service to a single customer are two regular bottles or one large size bottle of beer at one time. This means a guest cannot order two large bottles of beer or three regular beers to be served at once. The first must be consumed before a second may be served and the server must be aware of and watch for signs of intoxication before serving a second (or third).
• Wine - a glass of wine can contain no more than .25 of a litre of wine. However, wine may also be sold by the full bottle, a measured litre or measured half litre.
• Distilled liquor -a distilled liquor drink can contain no more than 3 ounces of distilled liquor. The maximum amount of distilled liquor that can be served at one time is 3 ounces (a double whisky and a two ounce shooter served to one customer at the same time totals 4 ounces and is illegal over service)

CLOSING TIME

You must stop serving liquor at midnight.  If you want to serve liquor later than this, you must first get the written approval of City Hall and then you may apply to Liquor Licensing branch to extend your hours.  The municipality where you have your restaurant may allow liquor service past midnight OR they may require liquor service stop earlier than midnight.  You must obey the rules of the municipality when they are not the same as the Liquor Licensing Branch.

NO LIQUOR MAY BE BROUGHT IN

• Guests cannot bring their own liquor.  They can only drink liquor bought from and served by the restaurant.

UNCONSUMED WINE MAY BE TAKEN AWAY

• Guests may take away partially consumed bottles of wine if the bottles are re-sealed. 

FULL MENU MUST BE AVAILABLE

• The principal business of the holder of a “Food Primary” licence must be serving food.  A  full range of meals must be available at all times liquor is being served, not just a few token dishes.  Advertising for the restaurant can’t suggest it’s a place to come for drinks only; food service must be the main focus of the business.

AGE REQUIREMENTS

• In establishments that hold a Liquor Primary licence or a Food Primary licence with a Restaurant Lounge Endorsement, employees who serve liquor must be at least 19. 
• In establishments that carry a Food Primary licence, servers over the age of 16 (under 19) may transport liquor, but they are not permitted to pour, mix or open any alcoholic products.

UNIFORMS

• Employees cannot wear uniforms that promote any type or brand of liquor (those cute tee shirts handed out by a brewery can be worn on days off)

ID REQUIREMENTS

• Guests who appear to be under 19 must be asked to produce two pieces of identification to show they are 19 or older.

EMPLOYEES MAY NOT DRINK LIQUOR

• Employees on shift cannot drink any alcohol while the restaurant is open for business

TIP:  For their own safety and your own peace of mind, consider not allowing employees to drink alcohol at work at all, even after closing. Even one drink can cause someone to become impaired. You want your employees to get home safely!

You can download the liquor licensing publication food primary term s and conditions or the liquor licensing publication liquor primary terms and conditions.