Have you ever been seated in your favourite restaurant, noshing on your favourite meal and thought to yourself, "this meal would go perfectly with (insert name of craft beer or wine of your choice here), I wish it was on the menu"?
Yes, I speak of the fabled Bring Your Own Booze (BYOB) to restaurants, which is not just some far-out concept realized in liberal European nations. It is a reality in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and Manitoba where no longer is there a need to salivate about what could have been, as you can, in participating restaurants, simply turn to your server and order one of the bottles of wine you purchased legally elsewhere, brought with you and handed over to the restaurant personnel upon arrival. It seems only wine has been included in the BYOB category at this point, but why not BYOCB (Bring Your Own Craft Beer), as there is no logical reason why beer could not be included.
Although the laws vary slightly from province to province, the basic idea is that restaurants have the choice to allow patrons to bring in their own bottle(s) of wine, which they turn over to the restaurant upon arrival. They can then order that bottle(s) of wine, as they would any bottle off the menu, and pay a "corkage" fee for their wine to be served to them.
All other facets of the liquor laws remain the same in regards to serving the BYOB wine. Servers must not serve to minors, must not over-serve, cannot serve to intoxicated patrons, the alcohol has to be purchased through legal channels, etc. The advantage to the restaurant is that they do not have to carry a large inventory of wines in an attempt to satisfy a wide range of pallets. Restaurants still make a profit charging the corkage.
The advantages to patrons is that they get to drink the wine they want to drink with their meal and are not restricted to what the restaurant may or may not carry on their menus.They may pay less for that wine as well, depending on the corkage fee charged. From the research I have done, the corkage fees run from nothing, in places like Montreal - yet another reason to love this great city - to up to $50 in Toronto - yet another reason...okay, I'll remain silent. Some restaurants in Ontario were even advertising reduced prices on traditionally slow nights during the week to try to lure in patrons.
With the Liberal Government's current promise to review the province's current liquor laws, it is not out of the realm of possibility that a BYOB law could be passed. In an email communication with VEBB, a Liquor Control and Licensing Branch spokesperson stated that the Liberals, "will consider 'Bring Your Own Wine' as a part of a larger review of liquor policy in the province." When queried specifically if the review was considering beer as well be included in the BYOB review, a "no decision has been made," response was all I received. I think it is imperative that those in the craft beer industry, consumers of craft beer and advocates for the consumers (are you listening CAMRA BC) make some noise and let the government know that it is not acceptable to make these changes without including beer in any BYOB program. I can guarantee you wine advocates are on this issue and making their voices heard, which is why wine was mentioned by the LCLB in their email.
Cafe Kathmandu owner, Abi Sharma, whose small Commercial Drive eatery does not have the room or the operating budget to inventory a large variety of wine or beer, is all for the concept of BYOB. His restaurant, which serves amazing food, is the perfect example of an establishment that would benefit greatly from allowing BYOB.
"It (BYOB) is a mutually beneficial arrangement for both patrons and restaurants so long as the (corkage) fee is reasonably good enough, for sure," stated Sharma. "I am willing to participate."
I can only think of one way to improve upon the experience of eating one of Abi's goat curries, that being able to enjoy the IPA of my choice with it. If BYOB came into effect, that experience could become a reality.
As the government would still be collecting their tax from the sale of the wine and beer originally and the corkage fee, they would not be out any tax dollars and as for the restaurants, if they do not see this as being beneficial for their bottom line, they would not have to participate. But for those who want to offer BYOB, like Cafe Kathmandu, this is a win-win concept that could only further enhance BC's growing reputation as a tourist destination and for cities like Vancouver, which is becoming somewhat of a Mecca for foodies and craft beer lovers, it would be a natural fit.
Let's hope those reviewing our liquor policies are thinking along the same lines. I, for one, cannot wait for the opportunity to take in a few of my favourite IPA's to compliment my already-out-of-this-world goat curry at Cafe Kathmandu.
About Me
- WanderingPaddy
- Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Hophead, craft-beer advocate and wannabe reporter on the politics of the Vancouver/BC craft beer scene
Monday, April 16, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Playoff Craft Beer Survival Guide
The reports that Maple Leaf players and personnel are being spotted working on their tans and tweaking their golf swings on the beaches and golf courses around the world can only mean one thing - the NHL regular season is over and this year's battle for Lord Stanley's mug is about to begin.
This is music to the ears of bar and restaurant owners who are preparing for the hordes of thirsty fans who will be gathering together at their favourite local watering holes to slake their thirsts while cheering on their favourite teams.
Historically, for Canadian hockey fans, that has meant gathering in some dark bar around a television, or in front of a fuzzy image projected on a screen, while drinking macro-lager swill, but times have changed since I had hair and a waistline, especially here in Vancouver where there are a variety of licensed establishments that feature numerous high-definition televisions and big screens and serve up a variety of world-class craft beer for thirsty sports fans.
VanEast Beer Blog put together a list for the craft-beer loving hockey fan to help guide them to some of the better hockey-watching, craft-beer-friendly places. Remember, this is my list and I do not claim it to be THE list. It is a biased list and reflects, in every way, the opinions of the writer. I welcome anyone to send in their favourite places to drink craft beer and watch the game in the comments section of this blog.
The number one place to enjoy the game with friends and family with the craft beer of your choice is your place. Where else can you get the exact beer you want to drink, eat what you want to eat, put the game on pause (if you have a PVR) while you go get or off-load beer, replay key plays to your heart's content and where, at the end of the night, you do not have to tip your server! And, it is the only place you can control who sits next to you, thereby ensuring you do not end up next to some bandwagon-jumping drunk whose ignorance of the game is only surpassed by their obnoxious need to voice said ignorance. Although it is a lot of fun to head out for the night to your favourite watering hole to take in the action and soak up the atmosphere, no where beats home.
Vancouver - Eastside
St Augustine's Craft Brew House and Kitchen - 2360 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
The number one place to watch the Canucks, or any sorting event for that matter, in Vancouver and perhaps BC, is St Augustine's Craft Brew House and Kitchen. With 40 taps of craft beer, 13 televisions and a location less then a slap shot away from the Commercial Drive transit hub, it is hard to beat Augie's. The downside is every sports fan in the city who loves craft beer knows it is THE place to watch a game so you have to get there early. Last year for the final series, people were arriving four hours before the game to secure tables. Check the website for reservation status. Augie's is also kid friendly and, despite what some think, is a restaurant.
Biercraft Commercial Drive - 1191 Commercial Drive
If you are looking for a less stimulating environment but still want a great selection of craft beer, Biercraft could be the place. With a 100-inch hi-def screen and two 42 inch televisions you won't miss the action. There are 25 beers on tap and a staggering 80 bottles to choose from as well as a great food menu. They do pull in the Eastside hockey crowd, but not to the extent of St Augustine's.
Westside - Cambie area
Original Joe's - corner of Cambie and W Broadway.
This choice may surprise a few people, but the Cambie & Broadway Original Joe's is slowly turning itself into a craft beer destination and they love their Vancouver Canucks! They don't have the most comprehensive selection of craft beer but you will find Driftwood, Red Racer, Howe Sound and Lighthouse beers among their selection. They also have in-house beers, brewed by Calgary's Big Rock Brewery, that are brewed exclusively for Original Joe's. They also serve full 20 oz measures of draft if drinking pints is your thing. The place lines up early on game nights and there are more than enough televisions and a big screen to ensure you will see the game. It is also perfectly located across the road from the City Hall-Broadway Skytrain Station.
Biercraft Cambie - 3305 Cambie
The Cambie version of Biercraft has a slightly different vibe and some different beers on tap, but similar numbers of taps and bottles to choose from and the same type of viewing set up. The food is great and as with the Commercial Drive location, you know your beer is going to be served with the love and respect it deserves.
West Side - Kitsilano
Darby's Pub - Corner of MacDonald and W 4th
For those who don't know, Darby's has quietly become one of the go-to craft beer spots in Kitsilano. Darby's has a 108-inch projection screen and seven flat screen televisions and 20 taps of draft beer, 14 of which are of the craft beer variety. As an added bonus, Darby's Liquor Store, attached to the pub, has an awesome selection of craft beers to purchase for your fridge at home. Darby's does take reservations.
The Bimini Public House - 2010 W 4th Ave
If you want to take in the action at Vancouver's oldest neighbourhood pub, Bimini's is the place. They have recently remade themselves and are beginning to build a reputation as a great craft beer house that has a great atmosphere during the games.
The Sunset Grill - 2204 York
I was just at the Sunset Grill last week for the #YVRBeerTweetup and it is a great venue with 14 hi def televisions and 15 taps of beer. It is a smaller venue with an intimate feel that will lend itself well to creating a great atmosphere for watching the game. I could see the Sunset becoming a very popular place to go for the action during the playoffs.
Downtown
Smiley's Public House - 911 W Pender
Smiley's is a craft beer joint that has a definite pub feel to it. Of all the Donnelly Group establishments, Smiley's probably has the best craft beer selection, with 28 taps. There is plenty of room at Smiley's to gather with a large group and I understand they will take reservations and hold them until one-hour before the game. I think Smiley's is a very under-rated place by craft beer lovers and if I am Downtown, this is probably where I would take in the game.
Malone's Urban Drinkery - 608 W Pender
Many in the craft beer community disagree with me about Malone's but I think it is a great place to stop in for a craft beer. It has long been known as a place Downtown to go watch the games, but the difference is now you have a very decent selection of craft beers to choose from as 27 or their 36 taps are dedicated to craft brew which are very reasonably priced. Malone's also has 11 televisions and a big projection screen so you won't miss the action. It is also just one block from the Granville Skytrain Station.
Surrey
Central City Brew Pub - 13450 102nd Ave
It's Central City Brew Pub, with Red Racer beer fresh from the source in true pint servings, do I have to say more?? Well, in case I do, they have two large projection screens and televisions everywhere you turn and love their sports with a passion. If that is not enough, it is about 200 metres from the Surrey Central Skytrain Station and they do take reservations. Food is great as well.
Richmond
Pumphouse Pub - 6031 Blundell Rd
The Pumphouse is probably the place that gets mentioned most to me as the place to go watch a game outside of Vancouver. With 24 taps of draft beer, most of the high-end, craft variety, six televisions and a large projection screen it is a great place to catch the action if you are out in Richmond.
Squamish
Howe Sound Brew Pub
There are few places I love to go out of town for a beer than Howe Sound Brew Pub. If I was going to get away for a weekend during the playoffs, this is where I would go and I may in fact do so on my holidays coming up in a few weeks. With their world-class beers, great pub, which is known for attracting sports fanatics for the big games and the hotel attached, it has all that I need. It doesn't hurt that everyone I have ever met associated with Howe Sound are amazing folks. Seriously, it is worth the trip to go check them out.
Mission
Mission Springs Brew Pub
Because I love the creations of head brewer Timmy Brown and because I know that there are few places that support their Canucks more than the Mission Springs gang, I am including them on my list of out-of-town places to go. If you find yourself anywhere near Mission around game time, do yourself a favour, grab a beer and soak up the atmosphere in the brew pub. And if you see Timmy hanging about, say hello from Paddy.
This is music to the ears of bar and restaurant owners who are preparing for the hordes of thirsty fans who will be gathering together at their favourite local watering holes to slake their thirsts while cheering on their favourite teams.
Historically, for Canadian hockey fans, that has meant gathering in some dark bar around a television, or in front of a fuzzy image projected on a screen, while drinking macro-lager swill, but times have changed since I had hair and a waistline, especially here in Vancouver where there are a variety of licensed establishments that feature numerous high-definition televisions and big screens and serve up a variety of world-class craft beer for thirsty sports fans.
VanEast Beer Blog put together a list for the craft-beer loving hockey fan to help guide them to some of the better hockey-watching, craft-beer-friendly places. Remember, this is my list and I do not claim it to be THE list. It is a biased list and reflects, in every way, the opinions of the writer. I welcome anyone to send in their favourite places to drink craft beer and watch the game in the comments section of this blog.
The number one place to enjoy the game with friends and family with the craft beer of your choice is your place. Where else can you get the exact beer you want to drink, eat what you want to eat, put the game on pause (if you have a PVR) while you go get or off-load beer, replay key plays to your heart's content and where, at the end of the night, you do not have to tip your server! And, it is the only place you can control who sits next to you, thereby ensuring you do not end up next to some bandwagon-jumping drunk whose ignorance of the game is only surpassed by their obnoxious need to voice said ignorance. Although it is a lot of fun to head out for the night to your favourite watering hole to take in the action and soak up the atmosphere, no where beats home.
Vancouver - Eastside
St Augustine's Craft Brew House and Kitchen - 2360 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
The number one place to watch the Canucks, or any sorting event for that matter, in Vancouver and perhaps BC, is St Augustine's Craft Brew House and Kitchen. With 40 taps of craft beer, 13 televisions and a location less then a slap shot away from the Commercial Drive transit hub, it is hard to beat Augie's. The downside is every sports fan in the city who loves craft beer knows it is THE place to watch a game so you have to get there early. Last year for the final series, people were arriving four hours before the game to secure tables. Check the website for reservation status. Augie's is also kid friendly and, despite what some think, is a restaurant.
Biercraft Commercial Drive - 1191 Commercial Drive
If you are looking for a less stimulating environment but still want a great selection of craft beer, Biercraft could be the place. With a 100-inch hi-def screen and two 42 inch televisions you won't miss the action. There are 25 beers on tap and a staggering 80 bottles to choose from as well as a great food menu. They do pull in the Eastside hockey crowd, but not to the extent of St Augustine's.
Westside - Cambie area
Original Joe's - corner of Cambie and W Broadway.
This choice may surprise a few people, but the Cambie & Broadway Original Joe's is slowly turning itself into a craft beer destination and they love their Vancouver Canucks! They don't have the most comprehensive selection of craft beer but you will find Driftwood, Red Racer, Howe Sound and Lighthouse beers among their selection. They also have in-house beers, brewed by Calgary's Big Rock Brewery, that are brewed exclusively for Original Joe's. They also serve full 20 oz measures of draft if drinking pints is your thing. The place lines up early on game nights and there are more than enough televisions and a big screen to ensure you will see the game. It is also perfectly located across the road from the City Hall-Broadway Skytrain Station.
Biercraft Cambie - 3305 Cambie
The Cambie version of Biercraft has a slightly different vibe and some different beers on tap, but similar numbers of taps and bottles to choose from and the same type of viewing set up. The food is great and as with the Commercial Drive location, you know your beer is going to be served with the love and respect it deserves.
West Side - Kitsilano
Darby's Pub - Corner of MacDonald and W 4th
For those who don't know, Darby's has quietly become one of the go-to craft beer spots in Kitsilano. Darby's has a 108-inch projection screen and seven flat screen televisions and 20 taps of draft beer, 14 of which are of the craft beer variety. As an added bonus, Darby's Liquor Store, attached to the pub, has an awesome selection of craft beers to purchase for your fridge at home. Darby's does take reservations.
The Bimini Public House - 2010 W 4th Ave
If you want to take in the action at Vancouver's oldest neighbourhood pub, Bimini's is the place. They have recently remade themselves and are beginning to build a reputation as a great craft beer house that has a great atmosphere during the games.
The Sunset Grill - 2204 York
I was just at the Sunset Grill last week for the #YVRBeerTweetup and it is a great venue with 14 hi def televisions and 15 taps of beer. It is a smaller venue with an intimate feel that will lend itself well to creating a great atmosphere for watching the game. I could see the Sunset becoming a very popular place to go for the action during the playoffs.
Downtown
Smiley's Public House - 911 W Pender
Smiley's is a craft beer joint that has a definite pub feel to it. Of all the Donnelly Group establishments, Smiley's probably has the best craft beer selection, with 28 taps. There is plenty of room at Smiley's to gather with a large group and I understand they will take reservations and hold them until one-hour before the game. I think Smiley's is a very under-rated place by craft beer lovers and if I am Downtown, this is probably where I would take in the game.
Malone's Urban Drinkery - 608 W Pender
Many in the craft beer community disagree with me about Malone's but I think it is a great place to stop in for a craft beer. It has long been known as a place Downtown to go watch the games, but the difference is now you have a very decent selection of craft beers to choose from as 27 or their 36 taps are dedicated to craft brew which are very reasonably priced. Malone's also has 11 televisions and a big projection screen so you won't miss the action. It is also just one block from the Granville Skytrain Station.
Surrey
Central City Brew Pub - 13450 102nd Ave
It's Central City Brew Pub, with Red Racer beer fresh from the source in true pint servings, do I have to say more?? Well, in case I do, they have two large projection screens and televisions everywhere you turn and love their sports with a passion. If that is not enough, it is about 200 metres from the Surrey Central Skytrain Station and they do take reservations. Food is great as well.
Richmond
Pumphouse Pub - 6031 Blundell Rd
The Pumphouse is probably the place that gets mentioned most to me as the place to go watch a game outside of Vancouver. With 24 taps of draft beer, most of the high-end, craft variety, six televisions and a large projection screen it is a great place to catch the action if you are out in Richmond.
Squamish
Howe Sound Brew Pub
There are few places I love to go out of town for a beer than Howe Sound Brew Pub. If I was going to get away for a weekend during the playoffs, this is where I would go and I may in fact do so on my holidays coming up in a few weeks. With their world-class beers, great pub, which is known for attracting sports fanatics for the big games and the hotel attached, it has all that I need. It doesn't hurt that everyone I have ever met associated with Howe Sound are amazing folks. Seriously, it is worth the trip to go check them out.
Mission
Mission Springs Brew Pub
Because I love the creations of head brewer Timmy Brown and because I know that there are few places that support their Canucks more than the Mission Springs gang, I am including them on my list of out-of-town places to go. If you find yourself anywhere near Mission around game time, do yourself a favour, grab a beer and soak up the atmosphere in the brew pub. And if you see Timmy hanging about, say hello from Paddy.
Monday, April 9, 2012
YVR Beer Tweetup
And I have to tell you, I was more than pleasantly surprised. I would even go as far as to say that I am now a #YVRBeerTweetup kinda guy and am working on those thumb-typing skills so that this 40something techno-dinosaur can produce witty, 140-character-or-less thoughts and observations to keep up with the young, hip Twitter crowd at the next event to be held at Smiley's Pub, on May 2nd at 5 PM.
The #YVRBeerTweetup is a concept dreamed up by Twitter users @JonnyBeers and @VancityBeerGuy, otherwise known as Jonny and Nick, who wanted to create a social networking event focusing on craft beers. The idea was to get a group of Twitter users together, in the same room, luring them there with the promise of great craft beer, prizes and the chance to meet other Twitter users face-to-face. The event at the Sunset Grill, held Wednesday, April 4, was the third #YVRBeerTweetup and by from what I saw, the idea is one that has taken off faster than you can tweet, @vaneastbeerblog loves IPA. According to @JonnyBeers, the first event, held at Doolin's Irish Pub Feb 1, drew around 100 people while the 2nd event, held at Malone's Urban Drinkery March 7, and the Sunset Grill event drew close to 175 each.
"It's been very popular from the start and keeps growing," said @JonnyBeers. "We have a good core group of people who have been to each tweetup. It's a really good mix of everyone from Twitter. There's a few regular people from the craftbeer community as well as lots of new people so it's good to put the two together to help grow that community."
It truly was a good mix of folks really enjoying themselves, with brewers, brewery owners and craft-beer industry shakers and movers tweeting and drinking it up amongst many who are not among the usual suspects found at local craft beer events. I know from a CAMRA Vancouver point of view, the event was a great way to attract non-CAMRA members, who do not usually attend craft beer events, and expand the local craft beer scene beyond the already converted and it is the type of event, as CAMRA Vancouver President, I would love to see CAMRA support more and more.
#YVRBeerTweetup organizers hope to keep things fresh and keep growing the event, while maintaining the focus on local craft beer.
"In terms of growth we have a few ideas up our sleeves, and some exciting announcements to come in the next few months," states @JonnyBeers. "One of our goals is to have at least one cask (Sunset Grill had three!!) at each event, but also we like the idea of launching new beers, new breweries or venues. There's also the possibility of having actual trips or tours. Eventually we'll expand the tweetup outside of Vancouver as there's lots of great things going on all around BC."
To keep up-to-date on #YVRBeerTweetup events and information, check out their Facebook page, follow them on Twitter @YVRBeerTweetup or email yvrbeertweetup@gmail.com. If you can, I highly recommend making the effort to get to Smiley's for the next event May 2nd. Smiley's has a very decent line-up of beers on tap and if the three casks present at the last tweetup are any indication, there will be some great real ale to sample as well. And don't worry if the Canucks are playing as Smiley has televisions located around the room so you won't miss out on the action while tweeting and tippling.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Meet the New Boss, Just the Same as the Old Boss - Will Privatization of LDB Distribution Centres Actually Result in Any Changes?
Last Tuesday's announcement by Liberal Finance Minister Kevin Falcon that the government were looking to sell off the BC Liquor Distribution Board's (LDB) two distribution warehouses and hand over operations by 2015, had many craft beer enthusiasts grinning from ear to ear as this seemed to hint that the cumbersome and much maligned BC liquor distribution system was about to be updated and streamlined.
But the more light that gets shed the government's plans to privatize and on on who may be angling to buy the warehouses, the darker the future looks for those of us that were hoping the privatization of the warehouses may trigger an overhaul to the current BC liquor distribution system which controls either directly, or indirectly all liquor distribution in the province.
It did not take long for many of us to turn those giddy grins to cynical frowns as we examined the situation and put the pieces together. As written in blogs Brewed Awakening, the Small Beer Blog, the sale and privatization may be signalling the possibility that something wicked this way comes instead the possibility of a fresh new start.
The price for buying the two distribution centres will be beyond the scope of possibility for all but a handful of potential buyers who have a money bags full enough to be taken seriously and that short list does not look too craft beer friendly at this time. And it appears this "sudden announcement" may not have been so sudden and that lobbying and vying for position to buy the distribution centres may have been taking place for some time.
Progressive Strategies, whose chairman is long time Liberal supporter and big business lobbyist Pat Kinsella, no stranger to controversary, or being involved in major privatization deals in BC, registered as an official lobby group for Excel Logistics in 2010 and they have targeted key Liberal personnel since that time. This is the same Kinsella who was the co-chair of the BC Liberal campaign in 2001, the election that shot Gordon Campbell into power and who more recently back Christy Clark in her successful bid to win the BC Liberal leadership.
According to a Globe and Mail article by Sunny Dhillon and Justin Hunter, Kinsella is also a registered lobbyist for Pacific Western Brewing, BC's largest independent brewery who are decidedly not craft beer focused and the Mark Anthony Group, who describe themselves as " the leading privately-owned importer and distributor of fine wine, premium beer, and specialty beverages in Canada" and whose beer products are Hell's Gate and Stanley Park Amber Ale, not exactly craft beer friendly either.
But those two groups are not the worst options to groups being linked to possibly take over the distribution warehouses and, at least in the case of Pacific Western, not likely candidates. The more disturbing information being uncovered is the link between Kinsella's Progressive Strategies, Excel Logistics and Canada's two biggest Breweries, namely Molson Canadian and Labatt's. That connection, according to a story posted in a story by Business in Vancouver (BIV), is that that Scott Lyons, who is named on the lobby registration by Kinsella's group as the contact for Excel, is the former director of distribution operations for The Beer Store, the Ontario-only based chain of retail beer sales outlets that has contributed close to $150,000 to the BC Liberal Party since 2005 and who are owned by Molson (49%) and Labatt's (49%), with the other two percent of ownership lying with Sleeman Breweries.
No one knows exactly what has transpired or if backroom meetings/negotiations have taken place but if Kinsella and the Liberals have been meeting to broker a deal I hope they have been forced to swill Bud Lime and Molson Ex and not single malt scotch and quality BC craft beer. All indicators at this time point to the government just replacing themselves with a big business group, possibly a group sympathetic with our big national breweries, bent on getting in on the projected 900 million-plus dollars in profit the LDB is projecting for the upcoming years in their most current strategy plan and not on reforming the LDB distribution system.
If those administering the system change but the system remains the same, this is bad news for the craft beer industry and we will see the status quo being maintained. In the words of Pete Townsend and The Who, it may be a case of "meet the new boss, just the same as the old boss," once the ink has dried on the contracts selling off BC's liquor distribution warehouses.
It is the system that needs replacing, not the people writing the cheques for the employees of the distribution centres. It is my opinion that we need a more open market system of distribution, with the government overseeing and enforcing laws from a distance, not while they are acting as distributor and retailer at the same time. It would great great to see the government actually trash this whole broken system and create a new, functional and fair system even if it means they get rid of the LDB as it exists now.
The craft beer industry would benefit greatly from having a system that helps promote and feature their products which have increased sales, since 2007, in litres sold by 47% while the bigger domestic breweries, who produce more than 150,000 HL/year, have seen their sales drop by 13.5% during the same time period. The craft beer market now enjoys a 15.7% market share, up from 7.8% in 2007 yet they fight for shelf space and are barely promoted by the LDB or in the government run BC Liquor Stores while their products are fully being represented in many private liquor stores and are flying off the shelves.
Why do craft breweries, many of whom deliver their own products to ensure good customer service and proper treatment of their beer by licensees, have to collect the money for their products, then send that money and accompanying paperwork in to the LDB, wait several weeks for the LDB to process the paperwork before receiving their cut of monies collected by them upon delivery in the first place? For small businesses, this wait for cash to flow back to them could be critical to their operations. It makes more sense that if a craft brewery wants to look after its own distribution, that it collects the money and then sends the LDB their cut, meaning no delay in cash flow for the breweries looking after their own distribution and delivery.
There are many other things that need to be addressed with the current distribution system, such as why do private Retail Liquor Stores (LRS) have to compete on an uneven playing field with the government-run BC Liquor Stores? LRS's have to buy their products through the LDB at a price marked up higher than the LDB-run stores buy the product. That is why, despite having lower overhead, the private stores have higher prices than the government stores. Why can restaurants and bars not buy directly from producers, cutting out the LDB as middleman? Why are there restrictions on cross-provincial border transport of alcohol? Why does the LDB mark up products well over 100% before selling it to retailers who again mark up the price before moving it to the consumer? Why can't importers import the products their clients want without having to wade through a mountain of paperwork with the LDB and and then have these products, if approved and listed, moved through warehouses where they may sit for weeks.
These are the things that need to be addressed by the LDB, not who runs their warehouses. It will be interesting to see how the deal takes shape and what it looks like. You have to know that the government is not going to give up their piece of the 900 million dollar profit pie, so how will the new owners of the distribution centre make their cut?
I have already seen emails sent out by LDB General Manager Jay Chambers stating that the price structure for products will stay the same and that the privatization will not effect the government liquor stores so what really will change other than the Liberals can claim the money from the sales of the distribution centres on the plus side of their budget ledger. So many questions with no real answers.
It will be interesting to see what transpires and I, for one, will be keeping a close eye on things.
But the more light that gets shed the government's plans to privatize and on on who may be angling to buy the warehouses, the darker the future looks for those of us that were hoping the privatization of the warehouses may trigger an overhaul to the current BC liquor distribution system which controls either directly, or indirectly all liquor distribution in the province.
It did not take long for many of us to turn those giddy grins to cynical frowns as we examined the situation and put the pieces together. As written in blogs Brewed Awakening, the Small Beer Blog, the sale and privatization may be signalling the possibility that something wicked this way comes instead the possibility of a fresh new start.
The price for buying the two distribution centres will be beyond the scope of possibility for all but a handful of potential buyers who have a money bags full enough to be taken seriously and that short list does not look too craft beer friendly at this time. And it appears this "sudden announcement" may not have been so sudden and that lobbying and vying for position to buy the distribution centres may have been taking place for some time.
Progressive Strategies, whose chairman is long time Liberal supporter and big business lobbyist Pat Kinsella, no stranger to controversary, or being involved in major privatization deals in BC, registered as an official lobby group for Excel Logistics in 2010 and they have targeted key Liberal personnel since that time. This is the same Kinsella who was the co-chair of the BC Liberal campaign in 2001, the election that shot Gordon Campbell into power and who more recently back Christy Clark in her successful bid to win the BC Liberal leadership.
According to a Globe and Mail article by Sunny Dhillon and Justin Hunter, Kinsella is also a registered lobbyist for Pacific Western Brewing, BC's largest independent brewery who are decidedly not craft beer focused and the Mark Anthony Group, who describe themselves as " the leading privately-owned importer and distributor of fine wine, premium beer, and specialty beverages in Canada" and whose beer products are Hell's Gate and Stanley Park Amber Ale, not exactly craft beer friendly either.
But those two groups are not the worst options to groups being linked to possibly take over the distribution warehouses and, at least in the case of Pacific Western, not likely candidates. The more disturbing information being uncovered is the link between Kinsella's Progressive Strategies, Excel Logistics and Canada's two biggest Breweries, namely Molson Canadian and Labatt's. That connection, according to a story posted in a story by Business in Vancouver (BIV), is that that Scott Lyons, who is named on the lobby registration by Kinsella's group as the contact for Excel, is the former director of distribution operations for The Beer Store, the Ontario-only based chain of retail beer sales outlets that has contributed close to $150,000 to the BC Liberal Party since 2005 and who are owned by Molson (49%) and Labatt's (49%), with the other two percent of ownership lying with Sleeman Breweries.
No one knows exactly what has transpired or if backroom meetings/negotiations have taken place but if Kinsella and the Liberals have been meeting to broker a deal I hope they have been forced to swill Bud Lime and Molson Ex and not single malt scotch and quality BC craft beer. All indicators at this time point to the government just replacing themselves with a big business group, possibly a group sympathetic with our big national breweries, bent on getting in on the projected 900 million-plus dollars in profit the LDB is projecting for the upcoming years in their most current strategy plan and not on reforming the LDB distribution system.
If those administering the system change but the system remains the same, this is bad news for the craft beer industry and we will see the status quo being maintained. In the words of Pete Townsend and The Who, it may be a case of "meet the new boss, just the same as the old boss," once the ink has dried on the contracts selling off BC's liquor distribution warehouses.
It is the system that needs replacing, not the people writing the cheques for the employees of the distribution centres. It is my opinion that we need a more open market system of distribution, with the government overseeing and enforcing laws from a distance, not while they are acting as distributor and retailer at the same time. It would great great to see the government actually trash this whole broken system and create a new, functional and fair system even if it means they get rid of the LDB as it exists now.
The craft beer industry would benefit greatly from having a system that helps promote and feature their products which have increased sales, since 2007, in litres sold by 47% while the bigger domestic breweries, who produce more than 150,000 HL/year, have seen their sales drop by 13.5% during the same time period. The craft beer market now enjoys a 15.7% market share, up from 7.8% in 2007 yet they fight for shelf space and are barely promoted by the LDB or in the government run BC Liquor Stores while their products are fully being represented in many private liquor stores and are flying off the shelves.
Why do craft breweries, many of whom deliver their own products to ensure good customer service and proper treatment of their beer by licensees, have to collect the money for their products, then send that money and accompanying paperwork in to the LDB, wait several weeks for the LDB to process the paperwork before receiving their cut of monies collected by them upon delivery in the first place? For small businesses, this wait for cash to flow back to them could be critical to their operations. It makes more sense that if a craft brewery wants to look after its own distribution, that it collects the money and then sends the LDB their cut, meaning no delay in cash flow for the breweries looking after their own distribution and delivery.
There are many other things that need to be addressed with the current distribution system, such as why do private Retail Liquor Stores (LRS) have to compete on an uneven playing field with the government-run BC Liquor Stores? LRS's have to buy their products through the LDB at a price marked up higher than the LDB-run stores buy the product. That is why, despite having lower overhead, the private stores have higher prices than the government stores. Why can restaurants and bars not buy directly from producers, cutting out the LDB as middleman? Why are there restrictions on cross-provincial border transport of alcohol? Why does the LDB mark up products well over 100% before selling it to retailers who again mark up the price before moving it to the consumer? Why can't importers import the products their clients want without having to wade through a mountain of paperwork with the LDB and and then have these products, if approved and listed, moved through warehouses where they may sit for weeks.
These are the things that need to be addressed by the LDB, not who runs their warehouses. It will be interesting to see how the deal takes shape and what it looks like. You have to know that the government is not going to give up their piece of the 900 million dollar profit pie, so how will the new owners of the distribution centre make their cut?
I have already seen emails sent out by LDB General Manager Jay Chambers stating that the price structure for products will stay the same and that the privatization will not effect the government liquor stores so what really will change other than the Liberals can claim the money from the sales of the distribution centres on the plus side of their budget ledger. So many questions with no real answers.
It will be interesting to see what transpires and I, for one, will be keeping a close eye on things.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Open Letter to Honourable Minister Rich Coleman
Dear Mr Coleman
As a person who has been advocating long and hard for the review and reform of BC liquor laws and the way alcohol is controlled and distributed in this province, I would like to thank you for finally taking notice of the loud and persistent calls for changes.
For a while there I was wondering if the government's strategy was to allow us liquor-law naysayers to scream ourselves hoarse and fall silent due to sheer exhaustion, but your quick call to action after being put in charge of both the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (LCLB) and Liquor Distribution Board (LDB) has me thinking there is a glimmer of hope that BC can begin to treat those who can legally consume and those who distribute and sell alcohol in BC like the adults that they are.
For as long as I have been aware of alcohol and liquor laws, I have been aware of BC residents and alcohol-related businesses crying out for changes to our out-dated and over-bearing liquor laws and system of alcohol distribution. The way in which these laws restrict the freedoms of those who choose to partake in downing a few adult beverages here in BC and the seemingly arbitrary way the LCLB enforce these laws, may have made perfect sense in post-Prohibition British Columbia, circa 1925, but sir it is now 2012 and if those who believe the Mayan calendar may indeed be predicting the Apocalypse on Dec 21, of this year, would like you to hurry along with these promised reforms.
By announcing that the BC Liberals are finally looking at "a number of issues on liquor", so that changes can be made, has many of us advocating for changes collectively holding our breath. Can real change and the end to the Orwellian, Big Brother style of controlling the liquor industry and liquor consumption in BC be just around the corner?
You seem to be a man of action and I am sure it is no coincidence that the shift of responsibility for all things alcohol in BC to you, from the Ministry of the Solicitor General, came at a time when a grassroots movement and a groundswell of support calling for reforms to liquor laws was growing, rallied by the ridiculous and short-sighted decision by the LCLB and General Manager Karen Ayers to cripple The Rio Theatre's ability to show movies even when alcohol was not being served.
My only fear is that this promise to review and "fix" liquor law problems is motivated by the Liberal government's fear of populist, grassroots' movements, as you are still stinging from the whole HST debacle and the Bill Vander Zalm-lead campaign that resulted in the hated tax being repealed and not by truly recognizing that there is a need for change. There will be huge disappointment and a further decline in Liberal popularity with BC voters, if this review and reform turns out to be nothing more than a few superficial changes, made to give the appearance of listening to voters and acting on their concerns, to quell voter unrest, when in fact nothing really changes.
A few band-aids slapped on as a quick fix will not suffice when total reconstructive surgery is required.
It will take more than allowing us to enjoy a beer while watching a movie in a theatre to "fix" and "reform BC liquor laws.
For instance, why does the LDB have complete control over what alcohol is sold in this province, for what price and how it is distributed? Why must private liquor stores complete on an uneven playing field, having to buy all their liquor from the LDB who mark up the price so that these private stores must sell their alcohol at a higher price than the government run BC Liquor Stores? Why, for that matter, does the LDB mark-up booze well over 100% before selling it off to bars and restaurants who must again mark up the price to make a profit and cover their operating costs? Why does the LDB, not consumer demand, get to dictate what products the general public and the hospitality industry can and cannot buy? Why is it illegal for freedom of movement in regards to alcohol across provincial borders? Why can consumers not BYOB to restaurants like in other provinces like Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec? Why, in the name of public safety can there not be dancing and plugged in, live music in restaurants? Why can I bring my daughter into a restaurant with a wine and beer list ten pages long, with those wines and beers being consumed on all sides of us, yet I cannot take her into a small, quiet, local neighbourhood pub which may feature a tenth of the alcohol selection and offer a great food menu? Why is it so difficult to open small, local microbreweries and brew pubs?
I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea.
I really hope you have taken the time to read this letter Mr Coleman as I am one of a legion of voters who feel the same way. We are fed up and we are tired of having our enjoyment restricted because a few out there may abuse the system and serve/consume alcohol irresponsibly. Let those of us who are responsible sell and consume responsibly, without government interference and punish those who do serve to minors, over-crowd their licensed establishments over-serve and over-consume. I hope during your "review" of liquor laws you take the time to consult with the hospitality industry, to listen to people like myself and include consumer advocacy groups such as CAMRA Vancouver and CAMRA BC who promote and educate about responsible consumption of alcohol.
Yours Truly
Paddy Treavor
Cautiously Optimistic Citizen of BC
President, CAMRA Vancouver
Authour of VanEast Beer Blog
As a person who has been advocating long and hard for the review and reform of BC liquor laws and the way alcohol is controlled and distributed in this province, I would like to thank you for finally taking notice of the loud and persistent calls for changes.
For a while there I was wondering if the government's strategy was to allow us liquor-law naysayers to scream ourselves hoarse and fall silent due to sheer exhaustion, but your quick call to action after being put in charge of both the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (LCLB) and Liquor Distribution Board (LDB) has me thinking there is a glimmer of hope that BC can begin to treat those who can legally consume and those who distribute and sell alcohol in BC like the adults that they are.
For as long as I have been aware of alcohol and liquor laws, I have been aware of BC residents and alcohol-related businesses crying out for changes to our out-dated and over-bearing liquor laws and system of alcohol distribution. The way in which these laws restrict the freedoms of those who choose to partake in downing a few adult beverages here in BC and the seemingly arbitrary way the LCLB enforce these laws, may have made perfect sense in post-Prohibition British Columbia, circa 1925, but sir it is now 2012 and if those who believe the Mayan calendar may indeed be predicting the Apocalypse on Dec 21, of this year, would like you to hurry along with these promised reforms.
By announcing that the BC Liberals are finally looking at "a number of issues on liquor", so that changes can be made, has many of us advocating for changes collectively holding our breath. Can real change and the end to the Orwellian, Big Brother style of controlling the liquor industry and liquor consumption in BC be just around the corner?
You seem to be a man of action and I am sure it is no coincidence that the shift of responsibility for all things alcohol in BC to you, from the Ministry of the Solicitor General, came at a time when a grassroots movement and a groundswell of support calling for reforms to liquor laws was growing, rallied by the ridiculous and short-sighted decision by the LCLB and General Manager Karen Ayers to cripple The Rio Theatre's ability to show movies even when alcohol was not being served.
My only fear is that this promise to review and "fix" liquor law problems is motivated by the Liberal government's fear of populist, grassroots' movements, as you are still stinging from the whole HST debacle and the Bill Vander Zalm-lead campaign that resulted in the hated tax being repealed and not by truly recognizing that there is a need for change. There will be huge disappointment and a further decline in Liberal popularity with BC voters, if this review and reform turns out to be nothing more than a few superficial changes, made to give the appearance of listening to voters and acting on their concerns, to quell voter unrest, when in fact nothing really changes.
A few band-aids slapped on as a quick fix will not suffice when total reconstructive surgery is required.
It will take more than allowing us to enjoy a beer while watching a movie in a theatre to "fix" and "reform BC liquor laws.
For instance, why does the LDB have complete control over what alcohol is sold in this province, for what price and how it is distributed? Why must private liquor stores complete on an uneven playing field, having to buy all their liquor from the LDB who mark up the price so that these private stores must sell their alcohol at a higher price than the government run BC Liquor Stores? Why, for that matter, does the LDB mark-up booze well over 100% before selling it off to bars and restaurants who must again mark up the price to make a profit and cover their operating costs? Why does the LDB, not consumer demand, get to dictate what products the general public and the hospitality industry can and cannot buy? Why is it illegal for freedom of movement in regards to alcohol across provincial borders? Why can consumers not BYOB to restaurants like in other provinces like Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec? Why, in the name of public safety can there not be dancing and plugged in, live music in restaurants? Why can I bring my daughter into a restaurant with a wine and beer list ten pages long, with those wines and beers being consumed on all sides of us, yet I cannot take her into a small, quiet, local neighbourhood pub which may feature a tenth of the alcohol selection and offer a great food menu? Why is it so difficult to open small, local microbreweries and brew pubs?
I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea.
I really hope you have taken the time to read this letter Mr Coleman as I am one of a legion of voters who feel the same way. We are fed up and we are tired of having our enjoyment restricted because a few out there may abuse the system and serve/consume alcohol irresponsibly. Let those of us who are responsible sell and consume responsibly, without government interference and punish those who do serve to minors, over-crowd their licensed establishments over-serve and over-consume. I hope during your "review" of liquor laws you take the time to consult with the hospitality industry, to listen to people like myself and include consumer advocacy groups such as CAMRA Vancouver and CAMRA BC who promote and educate about responsible consumption of alcohol.
Yours Truly
Paddy Treavor
Cautiously Optimistic Citizen of BC
President, CAMRA Vancouver
Authour of VanEast Beer Blog
Monday, February 13, 2012
Politics Make Strange Bedfellows
Does anyone out there know what the BC Liberal Party and a chain of alcohol retailers in Ontario called The Beer Store have in common?
Tens-of-thousands of dollars in donations, that's what.
Recently a friend of mine sent me a link that is basically a search engine that allows you to see who has contributed what to whom, since 2005, in regards to political donations in BC and it seems that The Beer Store, a chain of retail stores that sells beer found in exclusively in Ontario, loves the BC Liberals, something that made me very curious.
Why the Hell would a chain of Ontario-based, retail beer stores feel the need to contribute to the BC Liberals, the same Liberals who control the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch who, in turn, control how alcohol is regulated and distributed in this province, but who have zero influence out east in the Centre of the Universe?
It seems, on the surface, an odd alliance.
After about 25 seconds of intense investigative journalism of the highest quality, I broke the case and figured it all out -The Beer Store (TBS) is owned by Molson Brewery (49%), Labatt Brewery (49%) and Sleeman Brewery (2%) all of whom have a very vested interest in being in the good books of those who control all liquor distribution and who run the largest chain of liquor stores in BC, namely the BC Liquor Stores.
The Beer Store has a virtual monopoly on retail beer sales in Ontario, about 85% of the market and has been accused by the Ontario Craft Brewers Association (OCB) of not playing fair with Ontario's craft breweries. According to OCB president John Hay and chairman Gary McMullen, in an article that appeared in the Toronto Star in July 2011, TBS is making it very difficult for the smaller breweries, with smaller operating budgets and shallower pockets, to get their products listed and properly represented in TBS's 440 locations which dominate the beer retail business in Ontario.
Not surprising, since TBS are owned by the OCB's competition.
Here in BC, despite the fact that, according to the BC Liquor Distribution Branch's (LDB) latest Quarterly Market Review, domestic beer sales by the large (over 150,000 HL of production) domestic breweries are plummeting while the smaller (under 150,000 HL production) domestic breweries' sales are increasing significantly, the BC Liquor Stores, which are government run, continue to give the lion's share of their shelf and promotional space dedicated to beer to the large, national breweries. Local craft breweries, if they are lucky enough to get their beer listed with the LDB, have to fight over the limited space left, often hidden behind the mountains of cases of industrial swill and their related promotional displays that dominate the beer sections of these stores.
Calling again on my superior investigative reporter skills, I plugged in a few other names into the search engine and found that The Canadian National Brewers, a lobby group that works on behalf of Molson Breweries, Labatt Breweries and Sleeman Breweries, have also contributed equally significant amounts of money to the local Liberals since 2005.
Labatt Breweries, Molson Breweries and Sleeman Breweries have contributed directly to the BC Liberals but the totals that are easily identified as coming from them are significantly less. It is curious to me that these big breweries are funnelling dollars to the BC Liberals through channels that at first glance do not appear to be connected to them.
The contributions to the BC NDP party by all the groups mentioned in this post were drastically less, all totaled less than $5,000, at least from what I could find.
Now I am not insinuating that these political contributions to the BC Liberals are greasing the wheels for the big breweries to maintain the status quo and keep the prime real estate in the government run liquor stores, but it certainly isn't hurting.
Maybe The Beer Store chain were just in need of tax write-offs and they really dig what our BC Liberals are all about? Who knows, but the cynic in me has me thinking that there is some other motivation for these gratuitous political contributions, namely, maintaining the system as it is.
Where there is money like that being donated, there are expectations from those who are providing the donations. That kind of cake creates influence and gives the contributors a much better chance of catching the attention of the law and policy makers. I am curious to know if these contributions would have been directed the way of the NDP if they held the reins of power in BC over the same time period. We may soon know if the political polls showing the NDP to be leading in popularity with BC voters are correct and they get elected into power.
I found all this out in about five minutes. I wonder what is going on behind the scenes and how else Canada's big national breweries are reaching out to governments across the country to gain favour and influence. Maybe I am wrong and this whole post is based on nothing but my ever-increasing paranoia related to national and multi-national corporations acting as puppet masters for politicians around the world.
In the grand scheme of things I am sure that Belgium-based Anheuser-Busch InBev, who own Labatt Breweries, American-based Molson Coors Brewing Company, who own Molson Breweries and Japan-based Sapporo, who own Sleeman Breweries are not too concerned about what transpires in our little corner of the world, but you can be sure that the Canadian national breweries are getting just a little worried about the growing market share of the craft breweries on BC. With hundreds of millions of dollars in beer sales in BC at stake, each percentage point of the market is huge dollars in sales, the big boys will do everything they can to protect their turf.
I am curious to see just how far the national breweries will go to tilt the playing field in their favour and maintain their stronghold in the government run liquor stores.
Tens-of-thousands of dollars in donations, that's what.
Recently a friend of mine sent me a link that is basically a search engine that allows you to see who has contributed what to whom, since 2005, in regards to political donations in BC and it seems that The Beer Store, a chain of retail stores that sells beer found in exclusively in Ontario, loves the BC Liberals, something that made me very curious.
Why the Hell would a chain of Ontario-based, retail beer stores feel the need to contribute to the BC Liberals, the same Liberals who control the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch who, in turn, control how alcohol is regulated and distributed in this province, but who have zero influence out east in the Centre of the Universe?
It seems, on the surface, an odd alliance.
After about 25 seconds of intense investigative journalism of the highest quality, I broke the case and figured it all out -The Beer Store (TBS) is owned by Molson Brewery (49%), Labatt Brewery (49%) and Sleeman Brewery (2%) all of whom have a very vested interest in being in the good books of those who control all liquor distribution and who run the largest chain of liquor stores in BC, namely the BC Liquor Stores.
The Beer Store has a virtual monopoly on retail beer sales in Ontario, about 85% of the market and has been accused by the Ontario Craft Brewers Association (OCB) of not playing fair with Ontario's craft breweries. According to OCB president John Hay and chairman Gary McMullen, in an article that appeared in the Toronto Star in July 2011, TBS is making it very difficult for the smaller breweries, with smaller operating budgets and shallower pockets, to get their products listed and properly represented in TBS's 440 locations which dominate the beer retail business in Ontario.
Not surprising, since TBS are owned by the OCB's competition.
Here in BC, despite the fact that, according to the BC Liquor Distribution Branch's (LDB) latest Quarterly Market Review, domestic beer sales by the large (over 150,000 HL of production) domestic breweries are plummeting while the smaller (under 150,000 HL production) domestic breweries' sales are increasing significantly, the BC Liquor Stores, which are government run, continue to give the lion's share of their shelf and promotional space dedicated to beer to the large, national breweries. Local craft breweries, if they are lucky enough to get their beer listed with the LDB, have to fight over the limited space left, often hidden behind the mountains of cases of industrial swill and their related promotional displays that dominate the beer sections of these stores.
Calling again on my superior investigative reporter skills, I plugged in a few other names into the search engine and found that The Canadian National Brewers, a lobby group that works on behalf of Molson Breweries, Labatt Breweries and Sleeman Breweries, have also contributed equally significant amounts of money to the local Liberals since 2005.
Labatt Breweries, Molson Breweries and Sleeman Breweries have contributed directly to the BC Liberals but the totals that are easily identified as coming from them are significantly less. It is curious to me that these big breweries are funnelling dollars to the BC Liberals through channels that at first glance do not appear to be connected to them.
The contributions to the BC NDP party by all the groups mentioned in this post were drastically less, all totaled less than $5,000, at least from what I could find.
Now I am not insinuating that these political contributions to the BC Liberals are greasing the wheels for the big breweries to maintain the status quo and keep the prime real estate in the government run liquor stores, but it certainly isn't hurting.
Maybe The Beer Store chain were just in need of tax write-offs and they really dig what our BC Liberals are all about? Who knows, but the cynic in me has me thinking that there is some other motivation for these gratuitous political contributions, namely, maintaining the system as it is.
Where there is money like that being donated, there are expectations from those who are providing the donations. That kind of cake creates influence and gives the contributors a much better chance of catching the attention of the law and policy makers. I am curious to know if these contributions would have been directed the way of the NDP if they held the reins of power in BC over the same time period. We may soon know if the political polls showing the NDP to be leading in popularity with BC voters are correct and they get elected into power.
I found all this out in about five minutes. I wonder what is going on behind the scenes and how else Canada's big national breweries are reaching out to governments across the country to gain favour and influence. Maybe I am wrong and this whole post is based on nothing but my ever-increasing paranoia related to national and multi-national corporations acting as puppet masters for politicians around the world.
In the grand scheme of things I am sure that Belgium-based Anheuser-Busch InBev, who own Labatt Breweries, American-based Molson Coors Brewing Company, who own Molson Breweries and Japan-based Sapporo, who own Sleeman Breweries are not too concerned about what transpires in our little corner of the world, but you can be sure that the Canadian national breweries are getting just a little worried about the growing market share of the craft breweries on BC. With hundreds of millions of dollars in beer sales in BC at stake, each percentage point of the market is huge dollars in sales, the big boys will do everything they can to protect their turf.
I am curious to see just how far the national breweries will go to tilt the playing field in their favour and maintain their stronghold in the government run liquor stores.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Thank You to Karen Ayers & the LCLB
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| The Iconic multi-purpose RIO which has been screening films at Broadway and Commercial since 1938 |
With one ill-advised, short-sighted move, Ayers created a grassroots movement that has outraged the general public, captured the attention of the mainstream media and rallied politicians, both civic and provincial, to join the swelling numbers who believe the LCBC are being heavy-handed and unreasonable by barring all movies at the iconic 74-year-old, Eastside theatre.
I'm assuming that if you are reading this blog you are fairly up-to-date on the whole fiasco, but if not, in a nutshell, the RIO was forced to stop screening movies due to a "condition" placed on their liquor primary license 30 minutes before owner Corrine Lea was to sign off on the license stating the theatre could not screen any films at any time.
Lea had applied for a liquor primary license so she could sell alcohol at the multi-purpose venue's live events at night knowing she could not sell booze when screening films due the LCLB's law prohibiting movie theatres from doing so. What she planned to do was show films during the day, with the alcohol safely locked away and then use the liquor primary license, which is valid from 6 PM to 1 AM when, when The Rio was hosting live music shows, burlesque or any other number of live events they book.
To the majority of us, this seems like a reasonable and responsible way to operate. Movies, popcorn and soda during daytime, all-ages movies and beer and burlesque at over-19, no-minors-allowed shows at night.
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| Sad sight for Commercial Drive locals who can no longer wander down to The RIO to take in a film |
Come on, teenagers have been sneaking alcohol into theatres forever and don't need a concession stand bar to secure booze.
And because of this, adults are not allowed to sip a cold beer or glass of wine while enjoying a movie here in BC, something that is not the case in much of the world where public order and safety seems to be intact. I have even read that Manitoba is allowing the screening of films with booze and that Ontario is not far behind.
January 31st, Vancouver City Council voted unanimously to support Lea in getting the restrictive condition removed so The Rio can show films during the day, sans alcohol, and plan to lobby Solicitor General Shirley Bond, whose ministry is ultimately responsible for the LCLB, to get Ayers to do the right thing and do it quickly as The Rio is losing $2,000 a day, according to Lea.
NDP MLA Jenny Kwan has spoken out in the media and written an open letter of support to Bond and stated on a CKNW radio call-in show that "with a single stroke of the pen" Ayers could remove the condition and get The Rio showing movies on their silver screen. Kwan should have a fairly good idea as to how the system works as she has been involved at the provincial level for close to 20 years so when Ayers says her hands are tied, I wonder just how hard she is trying to loosen the ropes that bind them.
This show of support by elected politicians of any level for anything pro-alcohol is almost unprecedented.
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| Solicitor General Shirley Bond needs to force the LCLB and GM Karen Ayers to remove the restriction preventing bums from occupying seats while movies screen at The Rio!! |
Maybe it is the lingering sting of the defeated HST that began with the voters of BC voicing their outrage against the way the hated tax was introduced and ended with Gordon Campbell running off to London, England with his tail between his legs that has those in power backpedaling and those in opposition salivating. That public outraged was harnessed by a very clever and opportunistic Bill Vander Zalm and turned into an organized grassroots' movement that quashed the tax. I think the BC Liberals, fearing another campaign of organized public protest has them and the LCLB hunkering down in their ivory tower trying to figure out a way to defuse the situation before it grows stronger.
On a daily basis, residents of this province who drink alcohol get screwed royally by the LCLB and we mostly take it with a smile or, at worst, take it with little more than the odd grumble and the occasional rant to our friends, family or the unlucky stranger sitting next to us in the bar. But hardly ever do we get organized and political and truly let LCLB & GM Ayers and her out-of-touch brain trust know how we really feel about their arrogant, patronizing, we-know-better-than-you attitudes towards our province's out-of-date, archaic and often down-right illogical & restrictive liquor laws which are apparently the way the are in the name of "public safety".
Ayers and the LCLB are claiming their hands are tied, as they do, when they interpret the often loosely worded laws in a manner that suits them. Ayers claims she has to enforce the law that states movie theatres cannot have liquor primary licenses because the law exists therefore must be adhered to.
But in this case, it is not so cut and dried. There is no legal definition of what a movie theatre is. The RIO Theatre has many functions, screening films being one of them. Lea has insisted all along she would comply with not serving any alcohol during the time she showed movies and would do so until the law was changed to allow for such activities. There are venues, including The RIO in the past, that apply for Special Occasion Licenses to serve alcohol during movie events and they have been successful and you know what, public safety did not disintegrate and drunken rioters did not take to the street.
That only happens related to hockey games. On that note, why is Rogers Arena allowed to serve booze? Are there not a significant amount of minors who attend those events who could easily obtain booze and consume it in anonymity while hiding amongst the 18,000+ fans?
"There was no dialogue," stated a frustrated Lea about her interactions with the LCLB and Ayers. "Literally 30 minutes before I was to sign off on the license I received an email stating I could not show any movies and any time so I was forced to chose between having my liquor license and not showing movies or losing the license and showing movies. I was hoping that I could work out a solution (with Ayers) that would work for everyone."
Ayers and LCLB have been described by many in the BC alcohol industry as being heavy handed with their it's-our-way-or-the-highway style of operation. They have been called vindictive by many and very few speak out publicly against them or rock the boat for fear of reprisal. Lea had been vocal in the press about the need for liquor law reform specifically in regards to the law preventing theatres from selling alcohol during film events prior to the condition being placed on her license and rammed down her throat.
Last September the LCLB almost crippled the Great Canadian Beer Festival when Ayers sent an email to festival organizer Gerry Hieter, who has often been openly critical of the LCLB and Ayers in particular, advising him less than 24 hours before the event that US breweries could not pour beer. The decision was again unexpectedly reversed less than four hours before the festival, which was expecting 7,000 beer lovers to attend, opened and to this day Hieter has no idea what prompted these bizarre, last-minute decisions other than the LCLB sending him a message that they can and will make life very difficult for him because they do not like the idea of a great, two-day celebration of craft beer.
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| CAMRA Vancouver is trying to get Ayers and the LCLB to enforce the one liquor law that makes sense |
Let's hope that the public and politicians keep voicing their support loudly for The Rio, which now symbolizes the very real need to make some major changes to our liquor laws. It is not often where those of us in Lotusland get riled up enough to take on the establishment. It is time we say enough is enough and demand that the politicians treat us like adults who can fend for ourselves. We don't always need protection from ourselves. It would be brilliant to see the LCLB give licensees and the people of BC the chance to prove they can operate responsibly if given the latitude with more liberal liquor laws.
Punish those who do not choose to operate in a responsible manner and leave the rest of us alone to enjoy a delicous beer while watching a movie at our local cinema.
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