Happy hour has arrived in British Columbia just in time for those preparing for summer libations.
The new policy went into effect June 20, allowing licensed establishments to change their prices throughout the course of a day.
The government also established a minimum price policy for alcoholic beverages.
The lowest a bar or restaurant can charge for a drink is $3.
That’s the equivalent of one cocktail, a five-ounce glass of wine or a 12-ounce sleeve of beer.
The minimum prices are based on the ounces of alcohol sold at a bar.
The lowest beer and cider can be sold for is 25 cents per ounce while wine must be sold for at least 60 cents per ounce. Spirits and liqueurs run for $3 an ounce.
The cheapest a 20-ounce pint of beer could go for is $5.
Adam Chatburn, president of the Vancouver chapter of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) advocacy group, said the decision to introduce a minimum pricing policy is baffling.
“The rest of the world is laughing at us,” he said.
“If the minimum price is actually above the actual market price for beers already, then it’s exactly the opposite — it’s not going to represent a better deal for consumers at all.”
Chatburn added that although British Columbians may be accustomed to paying $5 for a pint of beer, that price is still “ridiculously high” compared with other locations across Canada and the United States.
“In setting the minimum price, it was important to us that we listened to both industry and health advocates,” B.C. Justice Minister Suzanne Anton said in a statement.
“We have done that and I believe establishing a $3 per drink minimum achieves a good balance for them, and for British Columbians."
B.C. Restaurant Association president Ian Tostenson said while some establishments may have to raise prices to meet the new minimum price policy, he’s not concerned it would make most business less competitive.
He said few “mainstream” establishments are currently offering prices below the minimum pricing outlined in the new policy.
“If those guys are doing that, they’re going to be out of business anyways,” he said.
Victoria announced last year it would begin updating the province’s liquor laws. B.C. was the last province to allow happy hour specials.
Instead, businesses would rely on daily specials to entice customers but they were not permitted to change the price of a drink through the course of a day.
The government said the new policy would allow bars and restaurants to drum up more business during slower periods of the day.
Tinn Chann, owner of Gyoza King in downtown Vancouver, said he is eager to introduce happy hour to the three restaurants he operates.
But he added the announcement took him by surprise and he had nothing planned at the moment. Instead, he’s going to gather information and introduce happy hour specials sometime within the next week.
Business In Vancouver contacted Malone’s pub, Yaletown Brewing Company and Two Parrots Pub. None of those establishments were offering any happy hour specials and workers were also unaware the new policy went into effect June 20.
Leigh Angman, co-owner of Relish Gastopub, said he had "completely no idea” the new rules were going into effect June 20.
But he added his establishment had been prepared for the change and would be implementing an hourly drink special later in the day.
Relish already offers 16-ounce beers for $4 every day of the week — a practice Angman said would continue since it already keeps in line with the minimum price policy.
The new policy also allows businesses to transfer liquor to one another. In the event a bar is running low on a certain cask of beer, another bar can move a cask over to their neighbour.
