B.C. orders 8 p.m. New Year’s Eve cutoff for liquor service, sales

VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) — Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has issued a public health order requiring restaurants, pubs and stores to cut off liquor sales and service by 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.

If you had reservations at your favourite haunt with the understanding you'd have until 10 o'clock to order something nice to sip, well — your New Year's Eve plans might be a no-go. I don't envy workers/managers at our local restaurants/bars/pubs that will have to break the news https://t.co/SseapPnux5

— Martin MacMahon (@martinmacmahon) December 30, 2020

In a last-minute telephone news conference, Henry says the new provincial order is to manage concerns around parties.

“We are concerned that leading into New Year’s Eve, particularly in some of our resort communities in some of the areas that we have traditionally seen parties developed … often from a public health perspective that is fueled by people indulging a bit too much in alcohol,” she says.

“In order to temper some of this risk, I will be issuing an order that now applies to a revision of the Food and Liquor Serving Premises order.”

Henry explains the purpose of the order is to decrease the “late-night consumption of alcohol,” which can lead to “risky behaviour” like parties and large gatherings, resulting in the increased transmission of this virus.

But Henry says if you have reservations at a restaurant, she ensures meal service will continue.

“I know that many restaurants are planning to a two, and the second seating generally happens around 7:00 to 7:30 so this does give the opportunity for people to order wine or whatever with their meal.”

We're hearing from one #VancouverBC restaurant owner who says the mad scramble is on to try and work around the new liquor service and sales rules for New Year's Eve. Jean Francis Quaglia owns Provence Marinaside Restaurant. He says he wasn't expecting the order "at all."

— Ria Renouf ???? (@riarenouf) December 31, 2020

Jean-Francis Quaglia, a chef and owner of Provence Marinaside, tells NEWS 1130 the restaurant is under pressure with the surprise order.

“We have no choice to make some changes,” he says.

“We have to call all the renovation past eight o’clock and tell them that they have an option to come, potentially early on like five or four o’clock or three o’clock in the afternoon if they want to have liquor.”

Quaglia adds, he also expects a lot of cancellations, which might add up to extra food.

“If people don’t know their order takeout to compensate for that, then it’s not the greatest thing.”

Quaglia ensures his restaurant will follow the rules but he does believe the order is unfair — for both the restaurant for the customer.

“It would have been better to know a week ago or two weeks ago on knowing that even a month ago. Then we could adapt. Maybe our menu, the way we do things, etc.

While the Provence Marinaside is a fairly large restaurant that sits about 300 people, Quaglia explains that they were only seating a little over 100 people this year.

“I understand we need to by consensus and not spreading the virus, so I do understand the concept behind — it’s just a bit late notice.”

Read the full amended order to liquor sales:

Over the last day, the province is reporting that 11 people have lost their lives due to COVID-19, with 485 new cases identified — five of which are epidemiologically linked cases.

More than 200 cases are in Fraser Health, and 117 of the new cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority.

Three hundred and sixty-nine people are in hospital and 77 are in intensive care.

We now have 7,551 active cases and at least 9,320 people under active public health monitoring.

In total, 893 people have died due to the virus and 51,300 have tested positive.

BC's #covid19 update Dec 30
Deaths 11-893
New 485
Total-51300
VCH(11913)+117
FH(32260)+211
Int(3749)+57
Island(901)+?
North(1890)+84
Hosp/icu 379/77
7551 active
9320 monitor (still missing Northern #s)
14027 vaccines to date
Confirmed Moderna in remote areas#bcpoli @NEWS1130

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) December 30, 2020

Henry adds, 14,027 vaccines have been delivered since the vaccine was distributed in the province.

And on a “very positive note” Henry says the Moderna vaccine has arrived in 10 remote and isolated First Nations communities that were identified as being of high risk

“Immunizations will be starting in those communities either later today or tomorrow and we’re very excited and happy that we’re able to provide protection to some of the most vulnerable of our, our community, particularly the elders and knowledge keepers and many of these high-risk communities.”

READ MORE: 

• B.C.’s vaccines to be prioritized for first doses, second shots will come in February, says Dr. Henry

• COVID-19 outbreaks at Abbotsford Regional Hospital, Langley Memorial Hospital

– With files from Tamara Slobogean