City makes official its one-km rule on liquor licences

By MIKE YOUDS

NEWS/ CITY HALL — Loosening of provincial liquor regulation led City council Tuesday to stand its ground on an anticipated increase in liquor outlets.

Council voted 6-2 in favour of a motion that officially imposes a one-kilometre distance between new liquor licences, whether held by grocery stores or local wine boutiques.

“I don’t believe it’s good public policy to allow too many stores in one area,” said Coun. Marg Spina, who tabled the motion last week. “Certainly we pay for the social costs of any social consequences of this.”

Councillors Dieter Dudy and Ken Christian objected to the move.

“It looks like I’m going to be the black sheep on this one,” Dudy said. “I don’t see that there’s going to be an increase in consumption just because there are more liquor stores around.”

Similarly, Christian pointed to the public consultation undertaken by parliamentary secretary John Yap for the provincial government prior to the expansion of retail liquor licensing.

“I too am going to join the black sheep club,” he said.

Christian sat in as deputy mayor for Mayor Peter Milobar, who recused himself from the vote because he owns a liquor store.

Coun. Donovan Cavers proposed a revision to the motion after questioning the rationale behind the one-km rule. He suggested the appropriate distance be left to the city’s planning department to determine, but no one seconded his motion.

A one-km distance rule has been enforced by the province in issuing new licences, but the government is considering lifting the restriction as it allows for the sale of B.C. wines in local boutiques. Several municipalities already have bylaws to prevent the clustering of too many private beer and wine stores.