Vancouver approves wine sales in some grocery stores

Vancouverites will soon be able to head to the grocery store to pick up a carton of milk and an opulent red, as city council approved a bylaw change Thursday night that would see some stores carry wine.

Coun. Mike Klassen says the change is “long overdue” as there are already 20 municipalities across B.C. that allow wine sales in grocery stores.

“From what we hear, it’s been very successful in those municipalities. So, I think having this change will allow people to have choice,” he explained.

The city says grocery stores bigger than 10,000 square feet, that have both a provincial wine store licence and a city business licence, “may sell wine on shelves provided they meet all provincial requirements.”

The city says all staff conducting the sale of wine must also be at least 19 years old and have a valid Serving it Right certificate. Stores must also have an “approved security plan.”

“There are definitely going to be grocery stores that won’t be able to have it, but … we know that Save On Foods, for example, and the company involved with that has a number of licences. The Loblaws company, which has a number of different stores in British Columbia and Vancouver, will also have the opportunity to try and make licenses happen and be allowed to get wine on grocery store shelves here,” Klassen explained.

Klassen also notes that the city also hopes this move will support B.C.’s wine industry — a sector that has taken a particularly hard hit this year.

“We heard a lot of stories about what a difficult year the B.C. wine industry is having. There are a set of licenses that are just to sell B.C. wine only, and so what we heard from the industry that came to speak at the public hearing, is just that between the wildfires, a freeze that happened that killed off a lot of the grapes … between that, they’re having a lot of challenges.

“So, I guess they’re really looking for support, so having the ability to showcase our fantastic B.C. wine in the largest city in the province now is really a great opportunity for them,” Klassen said.

While the public hearing included those with public health concerns, Klassen believes the city has found the “right balance.”

“We heard from public health who have been citing a study … but what was clear, is that the statistics show clearly that we’ve seen actually an overall reduction in binge drinking in British Columbia. We know that the vast majority of Canadians, over 83 per cent of them, who do consume alcohol, do it in moderation,” Klassen added.

Mayor Ken Sim says the city is excited to bring Vancouver into line with its neighbouring municipalities, adding it will “enhance” shopping experiences.

“This decision not only makes shopping more convenient, but it also supports the province’s wine industry,” said Sim.