The recent BCGEU strike has made it clear that B.C.’s liquor distribution system needs major reform. While government liquor store employees have the right to strike, the LDB’s warehousing and distribution operations are essential to the province’s hospitality industry and should always be treated as such. Just as Dr. Bonnie Henry declared during COVID.

Hotels, restaurants, pubs, and event venues depend on this system yet are left stranded during labour disputes they aren’t part of. A first step would be amending Section 8 of the Liquor Control & Licensing Act to allow licensees to buy from private stores during strikes. When LDB staff return, they’ll also face an even greater backlog on top of the delays that already existed.

Liquor Service until 4:00 AM – Vancouver Leads the Way

On July 21, 2025, Vancouver City Council made a landmark decision that will redefine the downtown experience: LIQUOR SERVICE CAN NOW EXTEND TO 4:00 AM, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK!

This unanimous vote, highlighted by CBC News, opens doors for hospitality businesses to apply for extended hours, putting Vancouver on the map as THE Canadian destination for nightlife, tourism, and international events.

What this means for you:

• Licensees in the downtown core may soon apply for extended liquor licenses with extended service hours
• Greater flexibility for patrons and event organizers, as well as increased support for local businesses. Extended hours mean more flexibility and revenue for operators, especially as the city gears up for events like FIFA 2026
• Boosts Tourism & Hospitality – with over 1200 establishments in the downtown core already licensed, Vancouver is poised to become Canada’s PREMIER destination for nightlife and late night dining
• Reduces congestion and enhances safety; staggered closing times help ease the 2:00 AM crowd surge, improving transportation flow and reducing neighbourhood disturbances

Whether you are a cocktail connoisseur, a dancefloor devotee, or just looking for a vibrant place to connect, Vancouver is setting the stage for unforgettable nights!

At Rising Tide Consultants (RTC), we see this as a pivotal moment for the hospitality and tourism sectors. Our experienced team is ready to help operators navigate this transition and position their businesses for ongoing success under the new bylaw.

Whether you are updating your existing liquor license, applying for extended service, or seeking compliance strategies, Rising Tide Consultants is here to help you rise to the occasion.

Let’s raise a glass to a city that knows how to keep the party going!

The LCRB are alerting licensees that they are coming after all businesses that failed a Minors as Agents Program inspection in the last 24 months.

All of those licensees can expect to be “retested” for compliance, and the penalties are now even more egregious.

When establishments commit a second contravention for the same issue within 24 months of a previously proven contravention, the penalty increases to reflect continued noncompliance. In the case of selling to minors, a second contravention has a monetary penalty in the range of $11,000 to $15,000 or a licence suspension of 11 to 15 days.

Rising Tide Consultants is completely opposed to the Minors as Agents Program and how the LCRB is operating it. To put this into perspective, the most serious offence under the regulation is the sale and service of liquor to an intoxicated person and allowing an intoxicated person to remain in a licensed establishment. The repercussions of this offence have the potential to lead to fatalities. The fine for this is only $3,000, and the inspector has discretion as to whether or not to impose a fine, give a warning or hold an enforcement meeting.

For serving a minor, there is an automatic $7,000 fine for a first offence, and the inspector has no discretion on whether they can impose a warning instead of issuing the fine.

We agree that the service of alcohol to minors should be addressed in all licensed establishments and that proper training, increased awareness, and protocols must be put in place. However, the penalties imposed are misaligned with the infraction. We urge the government to review the MAP and adjust how it is being carried out.

Rising Tide Consultants has spent countless hours researching this program, conducting audits for licensees and providing the necessary tools and procedures you need to pass a MAP inspection. We also provide you with all that you need for the defence of due diligence should you be caught in non-compliance.

As of now, the MAP inspections are going to continue, so contact us today. We are experts on this program, and we are here to help!

As the Gastown pedestrian project nears its end, it is evident that the closure to road traffic was not the success that the City of Vancouver had hoped for when they launched their pilot for Summer 2024. 

Reduced street access has resulted in up to an estimated 20-50% decline in sales for some businesses. Some have reported that their sales now are worse than the days of the COVID-19 restrictions. 

The costs have far outweighed any benefits for this initiative and it is our hope that Vancouver City Council listens intently to the Gastown BIA and the business owners that have lost significant revenue due to the road closures if they are going to try another version of this in 2025.

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Downtown Van Steps Up Security

Downtown Van has a new pilot program with Paladin Security. They will be deploying two full-time guards to patrol the Downtown Van district from 2PM to 10 PM, 7 days a week to work alongside the Downtown Safety Ambassadors to “address high-priority calls and enhance overall safety in the downtowncore.” Their Ambassadors will continue to focus on community safety with a hands-off approach, while these new guards will take on a more security-oriented role.

We wish to commend Downtown Van for this effort to protect the people and businesses of downtown Vancouver and improve the safety and security for all. 

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A Patio License In Vancouver Will Cost You More Than Other Cities In Canada

During the pandemic, the City of Vancouver took positive steps to simplify and expand its patio program, allowing businesses to adapt more quickly. However, Vancouver small businesses still face high costs and lengthy wait times for approvals compared to other major municipalities across the country.

Vancouver small businesses are being charged up to $1,451 for a first-time sidewalk patio permit. See the recent research by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) for the patio comparison costs across Canada. 

Vancouver $1,102-$1,451 (4 weeks)

Calgary $116 (6 weeks)

Saskatoon $0 (3 weeks)

Winnipeg $0 (1 day)

Toronto $917 (8 weeks)

Ottawa $1,424 (2 weeks)

Montreal $1,065 (time varies)

“The City of Vancouver is on the right path, but more work needs to be done to ensure patio permits are affordable and issued in a timely manner,” said Emily Boston, CFIB’s BC Senior Policy Analyst. “Right now, it can take up to four weeks for a Vancouver business to get a patio permit approved, whereas Winnipeg sets the gold standard with same-day approvals.”

Rising Tide Consultants works closely with both Vancouver City Council and the LCRB to ensure that the needs of our clients is communicated clearly and we are in full support of these fees being brought into a more reasonable alignment with our other Canadian counterparts. 

Client Spotlight

Forged Axe in Victoria has just received approval for their new LP license Rising Tide Consultants is so happy that this is finally a reality after a significant amount of time and effort to bring this to fruition. We don’t know about you, but we think this experience is worth a road trip! Don’t miss their location in Whistler too!

The domestic food court at Vancouver International Airport just got a whole lot better!

Triple O’s now joins the lineup with their new Food Primary license. Waiting for your flight isn’t quite as stressful now with this yummy addition.

Ash Street Bistro Bar & Bistro now has full approval for their new patios at the Legacy Senior Living Facility on 41st Avenue in Vancouver. The patio is not just for residents and their friends and family, it is now open to the public. Reservations required – call 604.240.8550

Mayor Sim Casts Tie-Breaker Vote In Favour Of Natural Gas In New Construction

Rising Tide Consultants is in full support of Vancouver City Council’s recent decision to include the choice of renewable natural gas, natural gas, hydrogen fuels in home and business heating in new construction in the near future.

This is a win for industry and we are grateful to Council’s fair and progressive decision to allow affordable and sustainable options for restaurants to utilize renewable energy resources for their operations.

We Are Here To Help

If you need advice or guidance with your licensing challenges or business operations, get in touch with us. 

Contact Rising Tide

The recent report by @pacificsolutionscontracting commissioned by the @bcrfa and the BC Coalition for Affordable Dependable Energy, shows that the cost could be upwards of $800,000 for an existing restaurant to convert to electricity from natural gas. This number includes all aspects of the process from hiring the experts required, new equipment, renovations, and installations, plus the revenue lost during the business interruption while all that is taking place.

The BCRFA is asking municipal governments to take this evaluation seriously and put the brakes on the zero carbon step code regulations that would ban the use of natural gas in new buildings ahead of provincial 2030 targets. Not only does this seriously question the economic impact on restaurants, but the feasibility of the proposal itself. Restaurants in 2024 do not have $800K sitting around in the bank; quite the opposite in fact. 

Rising Tide Consultants support our friends at the BCRFA, calling for a common-sense approach to energy which includes electricity, natural gas and renewable natural gas. 

For the full article: https://www.biv.com/news/hospitality-marketing-tourism/bc-restaurants-could-not-afford-natural-gas-ban-report-8892145

Rising Tide Consultants is pleased to announce that we offer design services to support our valued clients! By providing professionally drafted floor plans in AutoCad or Sketchup, you no longer need to engage an outside designer or pay your architect to do your floor plan drawings. This allows you to save time and money by streamlining the design process in presenting your drawings for your architect’s approval and facilitating a smooth submission to the city.

Rising Tide’s very own Meagan Morris completed the Residential Interiors program (DDA) at the University of Alberta and has extensive experience designing for residential and commercial projects across North America.

We are currently working on multiple projects for premiere Downtown Vancouver hotel locations. Get in touch to see how we can assist with your design needs.

We all love to cheer on our Canucks during the playoffs, but we are urging our clients to remember to create a safe and compliant environment for their patrons this season.

Responsible alcohol service is essential in keeping our city safe for these upcoming celebrations, so please be vigilant in enforcing your liquor service policies and ensure that proper ID practices are always adhered to.

Remember if you are caught serving alcohol to a minor you will be fined $7,000 on the spot! Over-service is a key factor in situations escalating to a point no one wants to see, so watch your guest’s consumption closely.

Alcohol products purchased to-go must be accompanied by a meal, and by this we mean not just a bag of chips. Want to know what constitutes a “meal” in this instance? Give us a call

Both the VPD and inspectors from the LCRB will be out in full force during the games so be sure to have the following items up to date and ready to show if they pay you a visit:

• Serving it Right certificates for all serving staff
• Your liquor & business license posted correctly
• Current floor plan
• Liquor register
• Alcohol Sense Materials
• Policy & Procedures Manuals that outline responsible liquor service

Missing some items? Have questions about getting this all organized in time? We are here to help!

Let’s all work cooperatively with our enforcement teams that are working hard to protect the citizens of Vancouver and prioritize mindful service and safety practices so that we can have a fun, successful Stanley Cup playoff season!

The team at Rising Tide Consultants has been researching avenues to help industry in the defence against the Government’s Minors as Agents program.

The Minors as Agents program is funded and regulated by the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch, whereby “youthful-appearing adults” are recruited to attempt to purchase liquor on the Branch’s behalf. The issue is the agents can often appear older, and if a judgment call is made to not ask for ID, the business can be in some very hot water.

One of the key resources Rising Tide has discovered is a revolutionary POS and Payment Processing System all in one convenient hand held device. Endorsed by Forbes as the #1 restaurant POS system with over 93,000 restaurant locations around the world, Toast is now available in Canada.

The functionalities are 100% geared towards hospitality venues with one very important one that will aid in prevention of a $7,000 fine and possible subsequent 21 day suspension of your liquor license, which are the penalties if you are caught in non-compliance with the Minors as Agents program.

You can customize the POS to default to an initial screen reminding the service staff to check for valid ID that requires acknowledgment before they are allowed to proceed to processing any order. This should not only prevent the service of alcohol to minors, but if an infraction does occur, then you have a strong defence of due diligence.

There is also an SOS functionality that the service staff can press a button that immediately communicates a distress message to your desired printer location in the event of an intoxicated, belligerent or difficult customer interaction. This is mapped to the table directly and is invisible to the customer.

For more information on Toast and deeper insight on how you can guard your business against the MAP, contact us directly.

Vancouver City Council met Wednesday, Dec 13, 2023 on some very important issues for Industry.

We are proud to be a member of the Hospitality Task Force with key industry partners, including the BCRFA, ABLE BC, Restaurants Canada, The Craft Brewer’s Guild and the BCHA that has been advocating to the city on the following key issues. We are pleased to report some impactful wins! Vancouver is no longer “No Fun City.”

The existing licensing moratoriums for Granville Street, Chinatown and Gastown have been eliminated so those areas of Vancouver are now open for new business licenses or expansion of existing licensed establishments.

“With respect to the moratorium on Granville Street, my view is moratoriums just prop up the dinosaurs, it does not allow for creativity, innovation, and a new opportunity to breathe life in. You’re just propping up the cheap bars, with cheap drinks, and you end up with drunks. I think you need to have that creativity and innovation to allow us to compete with other cities.” ~Bert Hick, Founder and President Rising Tide Consultants

The distancing requirements of licensed establishments has also been eliminated, clearing the way for more licensed establishments of similar size.

The licensing of retail business with liquor primary licenses, such as Spas, Beauty Salons and Retail Stores has now been approved. This will allow for these types of businesses to serve alcohol to their patrons along with their regular retail business.

These are very positive outcomes and we are proud to have been an integral part of bringing these changes to the City of Vancouver. We promise to continue our mission to streamline processes, slash red tape and eliminate antiquated policies for the benefit of our tourism and hospitality industries.

Read the City News article HERE

MINORS AS AGENTS – STRATEGIC PROTECTION PLANS

Rising Tide Consultants has 35 years of experience in Liquor Licensing and Compliance and is the expert in navigating challenging situations for hospitality and retail. The Government Minors As Agents Program is something all owners and operators should be watching out for to avoid a $7,000 fine and possible 21 day closure!

In November 2022, the Liquor & Cannabis Regulation Branch announced they were resuming the Minors as Agents Program of sending a minor into restaurants, bars, and liquor stores without providing identification. They have been very successful in catching licensees not requiring 2 pieces of valid identification in these transactions.

Rising Tide Consultants can help you avoid falling victim to this targeted program by arming you with the right information and training to lay the proper groundwork to avoid penalties or dispute a charge if you are caught in non-compliance.

We will do an on-site visit to your establishment to thoroughly audit your operation and provide you with a personalized Strategic Plan that will inform you of what you can do to set you up for the best chance of success.

We will address proper policies and procedures with regard to ID practices, communication to your staff and management, and updated systems you can put in place to ensure compliance and give you the defence of due diligence. We can also customize a policies and procedures manual for your business for an additional fee.

Value $1,200
Feature Rate $499 (+applicable taxes)

Contact us now to lock in this feature rate and protect your business against this program that the branch is making a very significant priority at a time when the industry is still fragile.

info@risingtideconsultants.ca
604.669.292