It has scored points for red tape removal in the lead-up to Red Tape Reduction Day, but the BC Liberal government still falls short in demystifying the province’s liquor regulations.
Earlier this year, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business recognized the provincial government for its success in reducing bureaucratic complications that hobble B.C. free enterprise.
But some sectors have benefited more than others from that initiative. Consider B.C.’s chronically contentious liquor file. In January, the provincial government unveiled another round of “new modern liquor laws” following consideration of 73 recommendations to the Liquor Policy Review. But fundamental issues, including more choice in product and pricing and the free flow of liquor from suppliers to commercial customers in B.C., continue to take a back seat to legislative embroidery. For example, the province’s half-baked initiative to allow wine sales in grocery stores now faces a challenge from the U.S. and European Union via the World Trade Organization because those sales are limited to B.C. wines.
B.C.’s latest liquor regulation retooling promises that all types of businesses, including barbershops, can now apply for liquor licences. That might be good news for barbershops and their customers, but more pressing complications for current liquor licensees should be addressed first.
As pointed out in “Liquor distribution branch plans move into new Delta warehouse” (BIV issue 1426; February 28-March 6), which raised questions over the need for the BC Liquor Distribution Branch to move into a larger warehousing space, those licensees must still have their imported liquor orders processed through the government’s liquor warehouse even though private suppliers already have warehouses to store the same orders.
Which is easier for government: allow barbershop customers to drink beer while having their hair cut or dismantle duplications in a warehousing system that involves unionized public-sector workers? In this case, what is easier is not what is right, and what is right is where the government’s real liquor regulation demystification efforts should be focused now.
