Vancouver survey seeks residents ideas on extending liquor hours

How would you like more time to buy a drink at your local restaurant?

The City of Vancouver wants to hear your thoughts on extending the liquor-serving hours.

Current regulations allow restaurants to serve alcohol until 1 a.m. on weeknights and 2 a.m. on weekends. But Vancouver is looking to push the restriction to 2 a.m. every night for restaurants and to 3 a.m. for bars, pubs, and nightclubs.

“The proposed changes are based on feedback from businesses and aim to modernize the city’s liquor serving hours policy, which has remained largely unchanged since 2004. Additionally, these changes consider opportunities to reduce regulatory barriers for local businesses, enhance neighbourhood vibrancy, while prioritizing public health and safety,” a release by the city explained Tuesday.

Maddie Smith, manager of Brewhall, a pub on West 2nd Avenue, says having the freedom to serve late for special events would be nice.

“I know they do it for New Year’s [Eve], but like for hockey games, or if there’s something at the stadium, it’d be just nice to have that flexibility when we want it,” said Smith.

She says Brewhall closes at 1 a.m., and the business can sometimes lose out when people would rather go to bars downtown, where they can continue to be served later.

Eric Dumschat with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) says anytime alcohol availability increases, so does its related harms.

“So it’s very important — if this is going to go ahead — the city makes sure that there’s also options for people to get home safely,” Dumschat explained.

The city says if proposed changes are approved, businesses wanting to extend their hours would be required to apply for the opportunity, according to provincial law.

“Each application will be reviewed individually, allowing for public input on the potential impacts, such as noise and other community concerns,” it said.

Vancouverites can share their opinions on the idea through a survey on the city’s website.

“Feedback gathered alongside input from industry experts, council priorities, and provincial regulations will help develop final recommendations for council’s consideration this spring.”