Vancouver city council approves liquor sales in grocery stores

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – You may soon be able to buy alcohol in Vancouver grocery stores. Council has voted to approve zoning bylaw amendments that will replace the previous definition of a grocery store with “Grocery Store with Liquor Store.” The city will begin accepting applications as of May 14th.

Stores will have to meet certain conditions.

“The main conditions that was of concern to us was how the liquor would be displayed,” explains Councillor Kerry Jang. “What we did not want to see was the liquor in open view of children while they’re grocery shopping, or things like that.”

He says the store-within-a-store model addresses that concern. “Such that if you wish to buy liquor, you have to go into a separate section with a separate till, so it’s not in plain view. That, we know from the medical health literature is the best way of selling liquor in a grocery store.”

Jang claims when alcohol is made “too available”, people will start making choices, for example choosing to buy liquor instead of food. “We know that leads to higher addiction rates.”

For now, he adds there are not other concerns to be addressed. “Of course these things are always reviewed over time, if we start getting complaints or something, then we’ll have to look at it again. But you know, it was a long time coming. They’ve met all the health concerns that were raised by ourselves and the health authorities, so let’s give it a go.”

The vote — which passed unanimously — was held at a public hearing last night. While specific guidelines and policies are expected to be put before council early next month, the city says the amendments will allow qualified grocery stores to sell alcohol using the aforementioned model.

“Over the last few years, we have undertaken extensive public and stakeholder consultation regarding updates to the City’s liquor policies,” says Kaye Krishna, General Manager, Development, Buildings and Licencing. “These amendments not only balance the public’s request, but also bring our liquor bylaws in line with provincial regulations.”

Should the proposals be approved, the city will begin accepting applications as of May 14th.

“What we do know is that alcohol is very available throughout Vancouver,” Jang tells NEWS 1130. “So whether it’s really a convenience factor, and with the number of government and private liquor stores around, and off sales and bars, we’ll see how well it takes off. But certainly there is a section of our population that wishes to … pick up a bottle of wine at the same time as they pick up their other groceries.”