June 22, 2014 - 12:56 PM
VANCOUVER - British Columbia's new happy hour laws may actually raise prices for beer at some bars.
The province is now allowing pubs to change prices throughout the day to create drink specials, but is also enforcing a minimum price of 25 cents per ounce when serving beer.
The owner of two Vancouver bars says that would raise the price of drinks at one of his establishments.
Sam Yehia says including tax, he charges $12.50 for a 50-ounce pitcher of beer, but the province's minimum rates would make him charge more than $14.
Douglas Scott of the province's liquor board says the new minimum rates will be enforced at all times, not just for happy hours.
Scott says health advocates and bar owners asked for minimum pricing to encourage responsible drinking.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014