Province simplifies liquor licensing

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This article was published 28/11/2022 (661 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Amendments to simplify liquor service licensing were introduced by the Manitoba government on Tuesday.

Bill 7, the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Amendment Act, would eliminate liquor licence categories set out under the act and could allow businesses that serve liquor to operate with fewer regulations.

The proposed legislation is the Tory government’s second attempt to reform prohibitive laws that require alcohol to be served with a side of food, entertainment or lodging. A similar bill introduced in the last legislative session failed to pass.

“These amendments would reduce the number of licence categories, allowing for new business models and providing hotels, restaurants and other hospitality-based businesses more opportunities to innovate,” Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen said in a release. “The current regulatory framework is overly complex and limits the type of new service models that entrepreneurs want to offer Manitobans while still ensuring the safe service of alcohol.”

Under current laws and regulations, the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority has six service licensing categories and 14 sub-categories, including beverage rooms, entertainment facilities, dining rooms and unique hospitality venues.

Each licence comes with a different set of rules that businesses must follow if they want to serve liquor to their customers. For example, a beverage room licence requires the operator to offer a minimum number of hotel rooms while dining room licences are only issued to businesses that run a commercial kitchen.

The proposed legislation would establish a variety of service licences through regulation. The bill would also allow any business with a liquor service licence to sell booze for takeout or delivery with food.

— Staff