City councillors have unanimously agreed to amend Richmond’s liquor sales bylaw, but those hoping to see more store locations best not hold their breath.
Meanwhile, residents in favour of sales restrictions in the community can exhale.
“There are very few locations where we could have additional liquor stores or additional liquor stores in grocery stores,” under the revised bylaw, said Carli Edwards, Richmond’s manager of customer service and licensing.
The new bylaw, adopted Tuesday, will separate full liquor stores in Richmond by at least one kilometre. However, wine stores will have no such restrictions, putting the city’s bylaw in line with new provincial regulations.
In July, at a council meeting, only Coun. Harold Steves opposed the amendments.
“I don’t think wine stores should have any special considerations,” said Steves.
“When I was a student, the drink to get drunk on was Herb Capozzi’s Calona red. You went to the liquor store, got a gallon and got really drunk as hell. So don’t tell me wine is any different from liquor,” chuckled Steves, a graduate of the University of B.C.’s education program in 1961.
At a public hearing Tuesday, Steves let the amendments pass, stating, upon reconsideration, the changes were not significant.
Council had previously heard from small liquor store owners, who expressed concerns about increased competition. As a result, council also amended its bylaw to only allow wine stores in grocery stores that are larger than 25,000 square-feet.
Effectively, this means only 10 existing grocery stores in Richmond may add B.C. wines to their shelves: Real Canadian Superstore, Pricesmart Foods, T&T Supermarket (Oval Village), City Market, China World Supermarket, both Save On Foods stores and all three Safeway locations.
“Staff are of the opinion that the requirement for a larger minimum floor area ensures that wine sales are limited to larger, community service centres and larger commercial areas,” noted Edwards in a report to council.
Edwards added: “Should a grocery store with wine sales wish to convert to full liquor sales in the future, the location will be required to go through a full rezoning process.”
This will effectively prohibit new liquor stores from opening in grocery stores because the application would have to comply with the one-kilometre rule; the grocer could, however, purchase the liquor sales licence from an existing nearby liquor store operator (including government operators).
Notably, it will remain city policy to buffer schools and parks from liquor stores by a distance of 500 metres.
According to Edwards’ report, the provincial government has justified allowing sales of B.C. wines in grocery stores to improve convenience for shoppers.
Furthermore, limiting the sales to B.C. wine is seen as a compromise that won’t allow grocery stores to compete with full liquor stores.
In July, councillors had debated the merits of adding more consumer choices.
“Maybe we should slow down a bit and look at the social costs,” said Coun. Bill McNulty.
As for that Calona red?
“It was terrible stuff,” said Steves.
