BC Ferries plans to expand alcohol sales on major routes

Alcohol will soon become more readily available aboard BC Ferries vessels.

The company has applied for licences to sell wine and beer with the purchase of food at select Coastal Cafes on the three major routes linking Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island.

“Recently, the company received approval in principle, subject to inspectors’ review, from the provincial Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch for these licences,” reads a statement from BC Ferries.

In the coming months, the company expects to start selling B.C. wine, craft beer, ciders and other alcoholic beverages on the following routes:

• Tsawwassen (Vancouver) – Swartz Bay (Victoria)
• Tsawwassen (Vancouver) – Duke Point (Nanaimo)
• Horseshoe Bay (West Vancouver) – Departure Bay (Nanaimo)

There have been some concerns from advocates and others on social media about offering alcohol to customers who may have driven onto the ferry.

Astrid Chang with BC Ferries says having a beer at a Coastal Cafe is similar to drinking one at a restaurant, pointing out not all passengers are drivers.

“Like all restaurants in British Columbia, we are not only going to act responsibly — all of the service staff will have the Serving It Right certification — but we’re also asking our customers to act responsibly as well,” Chang said.

“We do have conditions on our licenses. That includes a two drink maximum for customers 19 years of age or older. And they have to purchase a meal if they’re going to be purchasing an alcoholic beverage. Those are conditions that we’ll certainly be enforcing and keeping an eye on as people do start to enjoy this option that’s available to them starting at the end of the summer.”

Chang adds there will be signs, reminding customers of the limits, and alcohol will only be permitted in the seated section of the Coastal Cafe.

“You’ll see signage that says ‘No alcohol beyond this point’ that you would normally see in other areas where the public is and there are liquor licenses.”

She says BC Ferries staff will monitor guests and not serve people who are already inebriated. However, they will call the police, if necessary.

“We do have a good relationship with RCMP and police departments in the areas where our terminals are and where our ships dock. We do involve them anytime that we suspect there is someone who is impaired and if they’re … on our terminals or on our vessels. So that’s certainly something that we can do. But for the most part, we are the responsible hosts and we expect our customers to be responsible in their consumption as well.”

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• BC Ferries to increase fuel surcharge due to market conditions

Wine and beer service was introduced in the Pacific Buffet between October 2019 and March 2020, and BC Ferries says there were no issues with that rollout.

The new offerings are expected to be available by the end of this summer.

Training will be happening in the coming weeks and months, which you may see happening on an upcoming sailing.