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Ministry of Energy and Mines and Responsible for Housing


Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (LCLB)

Resources

This page contains links to publications, legislation, educational videos and signs broken down by category. Please click on the specific category below to view its contents:

Licensee Guides
Separate guides are available for each licence and appointment class that describe the terms and conditions – or rules – that anyone who has a liquor licence and/or appointment in B.C. must follow.


Policy Manuals
Policies guide the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch’s interpretation of the Liquor Control and Licensing Act and its Regulations. Separate policy manuals are available on licensing, compliance and enforcement, and special occasion licensing.

  • Compliance and Enforcement Policy and Procedures Reference Manual (LCLB206)
    This manual provides direction to liquor inspectors and regional managers as they carry out their compliance and enforcement duties. It contains an overview of the program, key concepts, compliance strategies, as well as information on identifying contraventions and taking enforcement.
  • Licensing Policy Manual (LCLB207)
    This manual provides direction to Liquor Control and Licensing Branch staff on licensing matters related to liquor-primary establishments and liquor-primary clubs, food-primary establishments, wineries, and licensee retail stores.
  • Special Occasion Licence Policy Manual (LCLB208)
    This manual provides information on special occasion licences and is written primarily for Liquor Control and Licensing Branch and Liquor Distribution Branch staff, police, local governments, rural agency store staff, and local Committee(s) to Approve Public Events (CAPE).
  • Miscellaneous Policy Manual (LCLB209)
    This manual deals with policies that aren’t specific to licensing or compliance and enforcement such as: non-beverage alcohol, grain alcohol, liquor delivery services, unlicensed sale of liquor via the internet, providing liquor to guests of isolated sports and recreation lodges, non-profit liquor clubs.

Policy Directives — 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008
The branch also issues policy directives whenever new policies are approved.

Due to occasional administration delays, some text changes to manuals may not have yet been updated.

2012 Policy Directives
Date of Issue Policy Directive Title or Subject
April 11, 2012 12-02 The purpose of this policy directive is to announce amendments to the Liquor Control and Licensing Regulation affecting the licensing of movie theatres and the ability of live event theatre establishments with LP licences to screen movies and other broadcasts. These changes take effect immediately, and repeal and replace policy directive 12-01.
Feb 8, 2012 12-01

NOTE: Policy directive 12-01 has been repealed and replaced by policy directive 12-02.

The purpose of this policy directive is to announce amendments to the Liquor Control and Licensing Regulation affecting live theatre liquor primary licences.
2011 Policy Directives
Date of Issue Policy Directive Title or Subject
Feb 16, 2011 11-01 Input of local governments/First Nations (LG/FN) into the licensing process for new liquor primary and liquor primary club (LP/LP club) licence and relocation applications.
2010 Policy Directives
Date of Issue Policy Directive Title or Subject
Nov 29, 2010 10-07 The purpose of this policy directive is to set out the general framework for the assessment of additional fees charged on special occasion licences (SOLs) where the general manager determines liquor inspector attendance at an event is required.
Oct 27, 2010 10-06 The purpose of this policy directive is to bring to your attention a recent amendemnt to section 23 of the Liquor Control and Licensing Act. The amendment took effect June 3, 2010.
Sep 23, 2010 10-05 The purpose of this policy directive is to clarify standalone requirements for Licensee Retail Stores (LRS). This policy directive replaces the Standalone Requirements section of policy directive 09-06.
For additional information please see:
Operational Bulletin 10-04
Apr 27, 2010  10-04 The purpose of this policy directive is to announce amendments to the maximum serving size rules.
Mar 19, 2010 10-03 The purpose of this policy directive is to announce a temporary policy change to permit liquor-primary (including liquor-primary club) establishments greater flexibility in hosting televised games of the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup outside of normal liquor service hours. There is no change to the hours of liquor service.
Feb 15, 2010 10-02 The purpose of this policy directive is to announce an amendment to the Liquor Control and Licensing Regulation which will increase the current 0.5 km separation requirement for relocation of licensee retail stores to 1 km. This policy directive amends the section addressing LRS relocation criteria in policy directive 09-06.  Corresponding amendments will be made to update section 4.4.5 of the Licensing Policy Manual.
Feb 11, 2010 10-01 The purpose of this policy directive is to announce that the policy permitting the presence of minors in recreational facilities in LP licensed establishments, originally introduced as a pilot project, has been made permanent.
2009 Policy Directives
Date of Issue Policy Directive Title or Subject
Dec 8, 2009 09-08 This Policy Directive relates to the automatic extension to hours of service in communities where the Olympic/Paralympic licence is available if authorised by government.
Dec 2, 2009 09-06 This Policy Directive is to announce recent changes to the Liquor Control and Licensing Regulation that affect Licensee Retail Stores (LRS) and to clarify current policies regarding LRSs.  These amendments take effect immediately.

09-07

This Policy Directive relates to:
Inspector Discretion to Issue Contravention Notices; Increased Violation Ticket Fines for Liquor Offences; Inspector Authorization to Issue Tickets.

The purpose of this policy directive is to announce changes to the Liquor Control and Licensing Regulation and to the Violation Ticket Administration and Fines Regulation.  The Liquor Control and Licensing Regulation amendment takes effect immediately and the Violation Ticket Administration and Fines Regulation amendments take effect on January 1, 2010.
Oct 28, 2009 09-05 Use of handcuff restraints by doorpersons in licenced establishments prohibited
Oct 1, 2009 09-01
Amended		 Amendment to Policy Directive 09-01, dated February 2, 2009 - Regulations implementing the temporary Olympic/Paralympic licence
Oct 1, 2009 09-04
Amended		 Amendment to Policy Directive 09-04, dated April 17, 2009 – Temporary exemption from tied house and inducement provisions of the Act for O/P licensees and food and liquor primary licensees when under contract with an organization eligible for an O/P licence; sponsorship requirements; temporary option for liquor primary licensees to admit minors when under contract with an organization eligible for an O/P licence; hours of service
Apr 17, 2009 09-04 Temporary exemptions from the tied house and inducement provisions of the Act for Olympic/Paralympic and food and liquor primary licensees when under contract with an organization eligible for an Olympic/Paralympic licence
Apr 6, 2009 09-03 Explanation of BC server training requirements for servers relocating to BC from other Canadian jurisdictions under TILMA and AIT
Mar 3, 2009 09-02 Amendment to regulation to allow off premises sales at brew pubs
Feb 2, 2009 09-01 Explanation of regulations regarding the implementation of the temporary Olympic/Paralympic licence for the 2010 Olympics/Paralympics to be held in Vancouver, BC.
2008 Policy Directives
Date of Issue Policy Directive Title or Subject
Nov 25, 2008 08-09 This policy directive expands Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (LCLB) pilot program (see Directive 08-02 below) permitting minors in liquor-primary or liquor-primary club establishments located in a curling club to include liquor-primary establishments located in golf course facilities, recreation centres and stadiums.
Nov 4, 2008 08-08 This policy directive advises the use of customized terms and conditions as tools to increase safety, promote compliance, and prevent violence in and around licensed establishments.
Sept 23, 2008 08-07 This policy directive announces that government has approved a temporary retail liquor store appointment in support of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Sept 23, 2008 08-06 This policy directive is a revision of LCLB policies regarding performances by exotic dancers and other adult-oriented performers
Jun 12, 2008 08-05 This policy directive amends LCLB policies concerning the documentation and fees required for changes to table officers and resident managers in non-profit fraternal societies holding LP club licences.
Mar 17, 2008 08-04 This policy directive introduces changes to tobacco regulations to prohibit smoking in all indoor public spaces and workplaces.  Smoking will no longer be allowed in licensed establishments once the new regulations come into force on March 31, 2008.
This Directive repeals Policy Directive 02-02
Feb 25, 2008 08-03 This policy directive announces new Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (LCLB) policies regarding dormant liquor-primary establishments with a licensee retail store and clarifies policies concerning approval periods for liquor-primary applications.
Feb 19, 2008 08-02 This policy directive amends Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (LCLB) policies concerning minors in liquor-primary establishments located in a curling rink and the application process and fee to permit minors into liquor-primary clubs and liquor-primary establishments at recreation centres during banquets and award ceremonies
Jan 14, 2008 08-01 Enhanced Fit and Proper Suitability Review Process
This Directive replaces Policy Directive 05-05

Educational Videos
This section contains links to video presentations for liquor-primary and food-primary licensees on the operation of your establishment. You may save either of these videos to your computer or view them from this website.

(Streaming video & download links)


Links to Legislation
This section contains links to liquor laws and regulations in British Columbia.


Liquor Line Newsletter
For up-to-date information on topics that impact liquor licensing in B.C.


Signs
This section contains links to pdf versions of "2 pieces of ID required" and "$230 liquor fines" signs for different types of establishments, and the "Notice to Customers" sign for UBrew/UVin establishments.

2 Pieces of ID Required

$230 Liquor Fines

Ubrew / Uvin - Notice to Customers (LCLB055)

Notice - Private Liquor Stores may only sell to retail customers (LCLB064)


Local Government/First Nations
This section contains information about the role of local governments and First Nations in the licensing process.


BC Liquor Stores – In-store Marketing Programs
There are rules that apply to all beverage alcohol retail promotional activity in B.C. liquor stores. The following in-store marketing manual is provided here for your convenience. If you have any questions contact bcliquorstores.com.