Patrons can bring their own wine to B.C. restaurants

(Jul. 24/12) As part of its commitment to modernize liquor laws, the B.C. government announced that British Columbians can now bring their own bottle of wine to participating restaurants. The Minister Responsible for Liquor Rich Coleman noted this change provides B.C.’s restaurant industry with greater flexibility in terms of the services it can offer customers.

Participation by licensed restaurants is voluntary. Customers will be required to have the wine served in the same manner as wine chosen from the menu, and restaurants may charge a corkage fee. CRFA supported the new Bring Your Own Wine (BYOW) policy on the condition it was voluntary and that participating restaurants could set their own corkage fee for providing the service.

Licensees are still liable if patrons are over-served or liquor service is provided to minors. As in other provinces, there are no plans to broaden this beyond wine to include beer and spirits.

Click here (PDF) for more details.

CRFA members Questions about B.C.’s new BYOW legislation?
Call CRFA’s Member Services Team at 1-800-387-5649 or membership@crfa.ca for more information.

“Restaurateurs, especially those with limited wine inventories, welcome the option of allowing their guests to bring their own wine. This liquor policy change allows those restaurant guests who want to celebrate a special event by bringing a vintage bottle of wine from their own cellar to their favourite restaurant to do so.”
 – CRFA’s Mark von Schellwitz in the B.C. government’s press release.