A full list of the changes now in place as follows:
Movies and concerts
– Allow movie theatres to sell and serve alcohol in age-restricted areas of theatres once a liquor permit is granted
– Allow concert hall and convention centres to sell and serve alcohol during televised or pre-recorded events. Only live performances were previously permitted.
Bar and pub operations
– Allow hotels/motel/guest houses and other types of accommodation businesses to offer all-inclusive packages for overnight guests that include alcohol
– Allow permitees to offer promotional packages where an identified amount of alcohol is combined with other products or services for a single price (i.e.: a burger and a beer for $10); minimum pricing guidelines will still apply
– Increase flexibility in how alcohol is dispensed, such as allowing beer “towers”
– Allow permitees to determine how drinks are served, including the ability to serve pre-mixed drinks (change made in 2012)
– Clarify the policies around the operation of patios and sidewalk cafes, including food service requirements, to ensure consistent and appropriate standards
– Amend the maximum hours for daily family dining and sunday family dining in taverns to 9:30am to 9pm to ensure minors are not present during main tavern hours
Sporting events and organizations
– Allowing sports stadiums to determine the number of drinks to be served to customers, the type of alcohol available, and the types of containers used
– Eliminate requirement for sports stadiums to use disposable utensils and dishware when serving food to patrons
– Expand licensing policy to allow the option to provide alcohol service in any part of sports facilities, with the exception of the playing surface (eg, ice in a hockey or curling rink) and subject to municipal approval
Gaming and gaming events
– Remove provisions around charitable gambling events from liquor regulatory framework (to be regulated through SLGA’s charitable gaming branch)
– Allowing minors to be present at Texas Hold’em poker tournaments, as long as the premises is not adult-only
– Eliminate limit on number of Texas Hold’em poker tournaments permitees can hold, which formerly had been one per week
– Allow restaurants to host Texas Hold’em poker tournaments outside the hours of alcohol service as long as alcohol is not served
Business operators
– Remove restrictions on the types of payment a permittee can use to purchase alcohol from SLGA, a franchise, or off-sale
– Remove the requirement for permitees to post the hours of operation, except for off-sale outlets
– Remove SLGA advertising standards that are not consistent with the CRTC standards
– Allow for an increase in the number of off-sale establishments and franchises on a seasonal basis, based on seasonal increases in populations in resort areas
– Extend licensing of restaurants to allow for outdoor restaurant areas
– Allow businesses to obtain up to six special occasion permits per year for the sale of alcohol
Special events
– Allowing a karaoke booth to be used as DJ booths for public events taking place in the restaurant lounge common area
– Allowing Sunday brunch to be offered in a karaoke lounge area with minors present (though minors will continue to not be allowed in karaoke booths)
– Increase flexibility for restaurants by allowing banquet rooms to operate during any hours that alcohol may be legally sold, even if the restaurant area is closed
– Establish guidelines to allow permitees to offer “beer nights” while maintaining permitees’ responsibilities to ensure customers are not over-served
– Allow special occasion permitees to charge guests indirectly for alcohol (through the cost of the ticket) where the host permittee is also selling alcohol to the guests
– Allow customers on permitted tour buses and boats to self-serve alcohol (under the supervision of an employee other than the driver)
– Allow permitted limousine and tour bus operators to serve alcohol where passengers are transported between permitees
– Increase flexibility for permitted bingo halls by allowing alcohol sales throughout the hall (currently adult-only areas must be specified)
– Increase flexibility for alcohol trade shows by allowing a single entry price to be charged that covers the cost of alcohol samples; organizers will be able to choose whether or not patrons must use tokens for alcohol samples
U-brew/u-vin operators
– Simplify requirements for u-brew/u-vin operators by allowing operators to deliver finished product to a customer’s home
– Simplify requirements for u-brew/u-vin operators by allowing operators to facilitate group batches of products
– Simplify requirements for u-brew/u-vin operators by removing the restrictions against customers topping up wine with spirits
– Simplify requirements for u-brew/u-vin operators by removing the requirement to operate a retail store front and other requirements around the layout of u-brew/u-vin facilities
– Simplify requirements for u-brew/u-vin operators by removing requirements for a minimum quality of furnishings and equipment at u-brew/u-vin facilities
– Simplify requirements for u-brew/u-vin operators by allowing them to determine their own policy with respect to customers reuse of commercial bottles and corks
– Simplify requirements for u-brew/u-vin operators by eliminating advertising restrictions regarding u-brew/u-vin products, subject to standards established by the CRTC
Record keeping
– Coordinate SLGA reporting requirements for alcohol manufacturers with other government reporting requirements to minimize number of forms and reports manufacturers must complete, such as excise tax
– Eliminate separate record keeping retention requirement and rely only on the Canada Revenue Agency’s retention period
On Twitter: @princealbertnow
