Liquor

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Who Needs a Liquor Licence?

If you wish to carry on business in the City of Vancouver and will be operating an establishment which offers for sale and service of alcoholic drinks to customers, you will need to obtain a liquor licence. This includes licences for establishments such as hotel pubs and lounges, neighbourhood pubs, cabarets, clubs and restaurants.

The Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (LCLB) issues licences in BC for making and selling liquor and supervises the service of liquor in licensed establishments. The branch alone is responsible for deciding if you will receive a licence. The City of Vancouver also plays a significant role. The LCLB is required to consider specific community needs in deciding whether to issue or change a liquor licence. This includes, for some applications (such as new liquor primary establishments), asking the City of Vancouver to provide a resolution that considers:

• Establishment’s location;
• The person capacity of the proposed establishment;
• The operating hours requested;
• The views of local residents and businesses;
• Proximity to other social or recreational facilities;
• The number of other licensed establishments in the area;
• Potential traffic, noise and parking problems;
• Population density and trends; and
• Impact on the community if the application is approved.

The LCLB regulates Special Occasion Licences (SOL) for Private and Public events (e.g., Weddings, Tastings, Community Festivals). Special Occasion Licences may be applied for at any BC Liquor Store . Approval from the Special Occasion Licensing Committee is required for all public special events. For more information on special occasion licensing, please contact the LCLB .

For more information on liquor licensing, please contact the City of Vancouver's Licence Coordinator at 604.871.6461, the Assistant to the Licence Coordinator at 604.873.7954 or by email at liquor.comments@vancouver.ca.

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