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DINER: New And Painfully Ridiculous LCLB Wine Policy Stands To Cripple BC Charities

by Andrew Morrison | Ugh. Just when you thought BC was heading in the right direction in regards to updating its laughably archaic liquor laws, the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch of the government has decided that selling wine at a charity auction poses a clear and present danger to the general welfare of British Columbians. Because duh.

The new development resulted in much rending of garments when it became the main subject of last night’s #BCwinechat. The weekly exchange of views between local wine media, winery principals, winemakers, and wine lovers often focuses (deservedly) on the provincial and federal governments and their general asshattery with regards to our liquor laws, but last night it got pointed, quick.

The new interpretation of long-standing legislation stands to effect hundreds of local charities (that are already seriously pinched) and came to light on Tuesday when Victoria’s much loved Belfry Theatre nixed its annual fundraiser after a civil servant quoted the letter of the re-interpreted law.

“The Liquor Control and Licensing Act requires all holders of a special occasion license to purchase or obtain their products from the BC Liquor Distribution Branch or an authorized manufacturer or agent,” wrote a Deputy GM at the LCLB to the Belfry on October 18th. “It is unfortunate that the Belfry Theatre made plans to accept and auction off wine from individual donors because this is clearly prohibited. Provincial liquor laws and policies expressly prohibit organisations from soliciting bottles of liquor from individuals to be auctioned for charity […] I am unable to reconsider the decision to allow donated product by individuals because it is specifically prohibited.”

Wanna bet?

Since this is the consequence of a policy decision based on the re-interpretation of an existing law, it could very easily be changed without being subject to the painfully slow process of amending existing legislation. The change came in June, and it was clearly not very well considered. Privately donated wines are auctioned off for charity all the time in BC. The auctions raise millions every year for fantastic organisations that depend on the generosity of ordinary citizens to function. The new policy threatens everything from the BC Hospitality Foundation’s service industry safety net to the support of our Olympic athletes through the Gold Medal Plates cooking competitions, and according to John Schreiner:

The now bankrupt Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company used to get about $300,000 a year from the Vancouver International Wine Festival. Most of that money was raised at Festival’s glittering Bacchanalia which includes the auctioning of donated wine. Just last month, the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival signed on to succeed the Playhouse as the wine festival beneficiary. What do you think Bard’s artistic director, Christopher Gage, might the thinking now? “Is this a dagger I see before me?”

More like “Et tu, Brute?”

To put a very fine point on it, this new policy is bullshit, the natural (almost predictable) result of a broken system that only ever consults with the people, organisations, and companies it daily affects except to say “no” with little or no sensible justification.

Expect it to be reversed in 3, 2, 1…

UPDATE: Fixed…well, not really. Our babysitters are being especially vague about it.

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Andrew Morrison lives and works in Vancouver as editor-in-chief of Scout, food columnist at the Westender, and National Referee & Judge at the Canadian Culinary Championships. He also contributes regularly to a wide range of publications, radio programs, and television shows on local food, culture and travel; collects inexpensive things; and enjoys rare birds, skateboards, cocktails, shoes, good pastas, many songs, and the smell of camp fires.

There are 6 comments

  1. It’s as though they are competing for some Bureaucratic Pulitzer Prize that the general public doesn’t seem to know about.

  2. Revenue is down and costs are up,
    this will be reversed but look for the Government to continue to try to generate revenue anyway they can….

  3. I’m fairly convinced the B.C. Liquor Licensing has just returned, ‘Diploma with Honors’ in hand, from The Gary Bettmen School of Public Relations.

    The Minister responsible for this file is the Honourable Rich Coleman. I encourage all of you Scout Readers to hit him up on Twitter @colemancountry or email him at [email protected] and let him know how you feel about this, and the need for broader reform when it comes to our liquor laws.

  4. British Columbians are launching a grassroots campaign to update liquor regulations. Learn more at CampaignforCulture.ca

  5. The small silver lining is this may finally shine a bright light on BC Gov’s longstanding policy of “we control every single bottle of booze in the province”.

    This overall control and taxation strategy has been screwing over agents, restaurateurs and, by extension, the public for years.

  6. The Law of Unintended Consequences has reared its head. The recent modernization of a few liquor rules is a testament to Rio Theatre supporters, inter-provincial wine trade advocates, and a remarkable out-of-the-blue BYOB decision. But that meant every other liquor law, regulation and policy had to be dusted off, studied intently, and reinforced with fervour.

    Regardless, the Wine Festival’s Bacchanalia Gala will continue to heartily auction off epicurean, travel and wine experiences for the fundraising benefit of the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival, as we had for the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company. Research is underway, but I’m confident there are ways to auction off wine experiences without bottles of wine actually changing ownership.

    “Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature if it be well used; exclaim no more against it.”
    ~ William Shakespeare

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