Bars, pubs, nightclubs suffering impacts of COVID-19 feel ignored during B.C. election campaign

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – We have heard major announcements about infrastructure, education, and healthcare during the B.C. election campaign. But the head of a group representing bars, pubs, and nightclubs says that sector has been largely ignored — even as they continue to suffer the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I don’t really feel any of the political parties have sufficiently addressed this during their platforms. And even the previous government, when they announced the recovery plan, there’s significant gaps for those sectors,” says Jeff Guignard with B.C.’s Alliance of Beverage Licensees (ABLE BC).

One of the big issues has been the liquor sale cut-off time for bars and pubs.

Bars, pubs, and nightclubs have been suffering for months because of the pandemic.
Today on @NEWS1130, we are hearing from the executive director of B-C's Alliance of Beverage Licensees who says the sector feels left out during the election campaign.

— Amanda Wawryk (@AmandaWawryk) October 22, 2020

“If you look at liquor primaries — a bar or a nightclub or a neighbourhood pub or something like that — on average about 50 per cent of that industry is not making profit right now. They’re maybe staying open with some supports in the wage subsidy or rent supports, but ultimately, they’re losing money and that is not sustainable,” Guignard says.

“Stopping liquor service at 10 p.m. has been a real, real significant problem for our industry and removed a massive portion of revenue for a lot of businesses that are already marginal. If we could move that back to midnight, it would give those businesses an opportunity to continue to operate profitably, or at least try and get back to some measure of profit. Otherwise, those businesses and of the other individual businesses that rely on them are going to be in severe trouble.”

ABLE BC would also like to see more government supports.

Guignard says loans aren’t the answer, and notes things like working capital grants for businesses would be more effective. He says it would be ideal to see grants that can be used for some of their fixed expenses so the revenue can be used to try and provide, not just employment for folks, but some other entertainment options to help people weather the pandemic storm.

Related stories: 

• Surging insurance costs hitting embattled B.C. bars, restaurants during pandemic

• B.C. will not rescind restrictions on liquor sales at bars, pubs for now

• B.C. orders nightclubs, banquet halls to close as COVID-19 cases continue to surge

While some industries have seen big promises from political parties, others have been left out. He says they are not asking to be singled out as the only ones to get support, but adds those ABLE BC represents want something, since bars, pubs and nightclubs are an integral piece of our economy.

“They’re an integral piece of our overall economic livelihood and the overall fabric of our society. It’s the same rationale for why you support a lot of other small businesses. Because the alternative is that we rely on government assistance individually and then when we get through this pandemic, there’s no businesses left.”

Nightclubs and banquet halls were forced to shutter as part of new rules introduced last month.