Parliamentary Secretary for Liquor Policy Reform MLA John Yap was in Penticton Monday to get even more input on changing what the province calls its "outdated" liquor rules.
(SHANNON QUESNEL / iNFOnews.ca)
October 29, 2013 - 9:22 AM
PENTICTON - There's only a few days left to tell the province how to change the rules regarding liquor, its sale and where it can be bought.
Parliamentary Secretary for Liquor Policy Reform MLA John Yap said input has come from law enforcement, medical professionals, city staff, liquor licensee holders and the average citizen regarding what the province has called its "outdated and inefficient" liquor laws. Yap also held a Twitter town-hall online liquor rules meeting, garnering 1,400 responses, personally pulling an all-nighter with the Vancouver Police Department during one of their patrols.
"I'm looking at moving forward in a way that is balanced.. and economic development (focused)," he said.
Yap was at the Poplar Grove Winery in Penticton with liquor license holders on Monday to continue his hunt for more input before he hands in his findings and recommendations to B.C.'s Attorney General Suzanne Anton. The deadline for giving advice and thoughts is Oct. 31.
One of the big requests from citizens is getting beer and wine in grocery stores so when people buy their groceries they can pick up their favourite beverage at the same location. Another change is getting minors who are accompanied by adults into certain eateries so families can enter.
Yap said he's also heard from some licensees the punishment for accidentally serving minors is too severe and didn't "fit the crime."
To learn more and to offer input go to B.C.'s Liquor Policy Review page.
To contact a reporter for this story, to send photos or videos, email Shannon Quesnel at squesnel@infotelnews.ca, call 250-488-3065, tweet @shannonquesnel1 or @InfoNewsPentict
News from © iNFOnews, 2013