Hotel guests in B.C. will be able to carry unfinished alcoholic beverages from their hotel’s bar or pub to their rooms starting January 23, the B.C. government announced December 14.
Hotel owners that also have pubs on their premises will also be allowed to supply guests with an alcoholic welcome drink starting January 23.
“The luxury of a complimentary cocktail at check-in or the convenience of saying ‘yes’ to a guest who wishes to go back to their room and enjoy the rest of their drink are the details that make our guests feel at home,” said David MacKenzie, who is president of the BC Hotel Association.
“Removing these small but significant restrictions will help our industry provide the best possible service."
Currently, hotel and resort guests are restricted to drinking alcohol in licensed areas and are unable to take their drink back to their room.
Once the rule-changes are in effect, hotel owners will be the ones who decide whether to allow guests finish their drinks at their own pace and in the comfort of their suites.
All employees who serve liquor in B.C. will still be required to be certified by the Serving It Right program to ensure that alcohol is being served responsibly. All licensed establishments are also subject to regular inspections by the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch.
“Today's announcement is a win for the tourism and overnight accommodation industry, and a win for British Columbians and visitors to our province,” said John Yap, who is B.C.’s Parliamentary secretary for liquor policy reform.
“Throughout the liquor policy review process it was made clear that both British Columbians and industry wanted common sense changes to bring B.C.'s liquor laws into the 21st century.”
