Fast-Tracked Liquor Delivery: Keeping Revenue Flowing During COVID-19
When pandemic restrictions forced restaurant closures, outdated liquor laws prevented crucial alcohol sales. The BCRFA acted within 48 hours, successfully advocating for a policy change that allowed licensed establishments to deliver alcohol with food. The swift regulatory shift helped hundreds of businesses generate revenue, retain staff, and stay open, setting a precedent for responsive, modern regulation.
The Challenge
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, restaurants and bars across British Columbia were forced to close their dining rooms with little notice. One major consequence: the inability to sell liquor, a significant portion of revenue for many operators, due to outdated regulations that prohibited home delivery of alcohol.
With no liquor sales allowed and no foot traffic, foodservice businesses faced immediate and devastating revenue losses.
What We Did
The BCRFA acted quickly. Within 48 hours, we engaged directly with government officials to address the issue and advocate for a common-sense solution.
Our ask: allow licensed establishments to deliver alcohol alongside food orders, as a temporary relief measure to help restaurants stay afloat during lockdowns.
Through strategic advocacy and urgent collaboration with policy-makers, we successfully helped bring about a regulatory change that allowed home delivery of liquor from licensed establishments.
The Outcome
The change was approved within days. Metro Vancouver and surrounding jurisdictions adopted the relaxed regulation, with the only requirement being that participating establishments maintain a standard of responsibility and compliance.
This fast-tracked policy shift allowed hundreds of restaurants and bars to generate critical revenue during the shutdown, helping keep staff employed and businesses open.
Why it Matters
This case highlights the BCRFA’s role as a rapid-response advocate for the foodservice industry. We don’t just talk, we act. When a crisis arises, our team is in the room, working to remove barriers and get tangible results for members.
This win helped establish a new precedent: that flexible, modern regulation can and should support the success of local businesses, especially in times of crisis.
“This single change helped us stay alive during lockdown. Without liquor delivery, we wouldn’t have made it”
— Jim Romer, Romers