COVID-19 Bulletin 12 | Clarification on Liquor Service

Clarification on Liquor Service

Bulletin #12 - May 14, 2020

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The NGCOA Canada, through the assistance of Rising Tide Consultants, has received clarification on liquor service at the golf course during COVID-19 restrictions.

On May 13th, we were advised by Rising Tide Consultants, that the following clarifications had been provided by the Policy Division of the Liquor & Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB):

The Provincial Health Authority (PHA) hasn’t set any specific restrictions relating to the safe operation of golf courses.

Liquor Inspectors will now defer liquor service questions pertaining to COVID-19 to the Provincial Health Authority and PHA may provide more specific details for service of liquor at golf courses.

As long as golf courses are operating in a safe and legal manner in accordance with their liquor licence terms and conditions, a Licensee is entitled to serve liquor on the playing surface of the golf course without first complying with the guidelines from the PHA and without risk of receiving a Contravention Notice from the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch. For now, golf courses are OK to serve liquor on the playing surface of the golf course as “normal” ensuring they are using the social distancing guidelines (6feet/2 metres) as set out by the Provincial Health Authority.

If reasonable to do so, it is suggested that you allow for cashless payment where the product can be put down beside the payment machine, the server would step back 2 metres to allow the patron to pay for their product and then the patron would step back (2 metres) and the server would step forward and finalize the purchase.

If your existing liquor licence permits for the service of liquor on the golf course, then you are legally allowed to serve your golfers without consequence.

A big thank you to Bert Hick of Rising Tide Consultants in securing these clarifications and for all their efforts on behalf of golf in British Columbia. If you have questions or experience any issues relating to your golf course liquor licence; please do not hesitate to reach out to Bert and the team at Rising Tide Consultants at info@risingtideconsultants.ca or 604-669-2928.

An opportunity has now been created for an ongoing dialogue with the LCRB, through Rising Tide Consultants, and we anticipate further clarification for safety restrictions for Golf course operations, specifically, to be released in the coming weeks.

Your Association continues to monitor the various Government announcements and will continue to keep you apprised of the latest developments.

Please do not hesitate to contact me at ebeck@ngcoa.ca should you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Erica Beck, Regional Director

NGCOA Canada - British Columbia

866-626-4262 extension 40