Last week, Area C Director Allan Patton drove to the coast to defend wineries who need help.
Restaurants at wineries are allowed to sell their own product and other BC wine but not spirits or beer to customers. There is a demand from customers for a variety of product to drink while dining.
The wineries, the RDOS and Patton want a change but it needs pressure from the Agriculture Land Commission, politicians and the restaurant owners to make the point to the one body that can actually make it all happen – the B.C. Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (LCLB).
Patton says he told Commissioners of the ALC in Vancouver that the RDOS wants the change and wants NOT to be in the middle of all the confusion.
Patton says it was very generous of the Land Commission to allow him to speak at a regular meeting about a letter that was sent from the Regional District. He said they seemed to understand the issue but made no promises while he was in the room. The RDOS had written the commission in January.
Wineries in the South Okanagan seem to be on-side with the plan – that would allow spirits, beer and wine served in farm based restaurants if the product is locally grown, brewed or distilled in BC. This falls within the context of farming and agriculture.
So, will an expanded license be granted in the near future? No one knows.
A good time to talk to provincial politicians and those that want to be prior to May 14th.
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Earlier on ODN – From January 25th
Dancing around on liquor choices at wineries
A number of decisions Thursday at RDOS meeting in Penticton that affect the issue of full service liquor licenses for local wineries requesting such.
An application before the board from Hester Creek Estate Winery was postponed until a second application from Tinhorn Creek Estate Winery is received by the board.
Meanwhile RDOS directors have decided to write to the Agricultural Land Commission asking it to design a policy that is uniform across the board for all wineries on farmland placing restrictions on what could be sold and consumed on land zoned FARM – not commercial.
Director Allan Patton told the board he wanted to suggest what the ALC could do but agreed with the idea of writing a letter expressing the intent of the motion passed Thursday. Patton had suggested that beverages should be made from BC products and bottled in the province.
All directors indicated that the RDOS is not the B.C. Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (LCLB) and the regional government should stick to zoning and land use matters.
One board member indicated that the flood gates are open – the wineries are here and they want to be viable and make money. The time to restrict is on new applications for land use – not after the horse has left the barn.