On May 22, 2020, the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) provided a new policy that will authorize a licensee (food primary, liquor primary and manufacturer licensees including wineries, breweries, distilleries) to temporarily expand their service areas until October 31, 2020. The new policy is provided in the context of the Provincial state of emergency and public health emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic, while promoting physical distancing and making it easier for B.C’s licensed establishments to safely reopen for business. According to LCRB, the license will only allow a business to increase its footprint and not its overall capacity while providing local governments with the option to either pre-approve/blanket-approve all liquor primary and manufacturer establishments that wish to apply for an extended service area or review each application on case-by-case basis. In response to this, the Regional District has advised LCRB that it wishes to “provide one preapproval to cover all liquor primary and manufacturer establishments within [RDOS] jurisdiction who may apply for an expanded service area”. Further information regarding liquor and cannabis regulation and licensing in British Columbia is available on the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch website at: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/business/liquor-regulationlicensing


