Vendor selling farmed goods at Penticton Farmers' Marke
Image Credit: Penticton Farmers' Market
July 08, 2014 - 12:37 PM
PENTICTON - Local vendors will soon be able to sell packaged liquor for off-site consumption at farmers’ markets, so long as council approves a change of what defines an “outdoor market.”
In order to allow liquor sales and tasting at outdoor markets, the city needs to make a zoning amendment to the current bylaw. The amendment would change the definition of an “outdoor market” to, “a temporary use where groups of individual sellers offer new and used goods, crafts or produce for sale directly to the public.”
Several wineries have made several requests to downtown organizations to allow sales and tasting of local wine and beer, said Coun. Judy Sentes.
“This makes perfect sense,” she said. “This is addressing a need that is coming from the wonderful wine area that we live in.”
Vendors must have a liquor retail sales licence, which will allow them to sell liquor at an outdoor location if the bylaw is amended. Vendors still need to abide by provincial regulations of checking ID of persons purchasing alcohol or sampling drinks to assure they are of legal age.
The City is following recommendations from the B.C. Liquor Control and Licensing Branch, which recently amended provincial liquor laws, to upgrade municipal liquor regulations. The matter will be heard at a public hearing before next council meeting on July 21. Members of the public are welcome to attend and voice any concerns, questions or support for the initiative.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Meaghan Archer at marcher@infotelnews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014