After a little over a week of new liquor restrictions issued by the government of British Columbia, Kelowna watering holes are beginning to feel the effects.
On Sept. 8, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry ordered a ban on alcohol sales in restaurants, bars and pubs after 10 p.m., as well as requiring them to close by 11 p.m. if the kitchen doesnsa国际传媒檛 remain open. In addition, Henry ordered nightclubs and stand-alone banquet halls to shut down completely.
With local bars and restaurants trying to get back on their feet after having to close their doors for several months due to COVID-19, the new restrictions have knocked many establishments back down, losing out on primetime hours after 10 p.m.
Kalli Dunham, manager of Craft Beer Market in downtown Kelowna said the party hasnsa国际传媒檛 stopped at 10 p.m., noting many of her customers are flocking to house parties or even partying in the streets after closing time.
sa国际传媒淎 lot of our sales are post 10 p.msa国际传媒� wesa国际传媒檙e seeing a massive decrease in sales,sa国际传媒� said Dunham.
sa国际传媒淲e still think that theresa国际传媒檚 the same number of people that are trying to break the rules and still trying to table hop between the hour of 7 to 10 p.m., so we donsa国际传媒檛 really see (how the new restrictions) are going to make a difference. Wesa国际传媒檙e finding that people are just parting in the streets so wesa国际传媒檙e then trying to police outside.sa国际传媒�
Kelly Osa国际传媒橞ryansa国际传媒檚 Neighbourhood Restaurant, located directly across the street from Craft, has seen a similar trend. Cassidy Barron, manager of Kelly Osa国际传媒橞ryans said she hasnsa国际传媒檛 seen a shift in the mentality stating people are going to party regardless of the restrictions, and the new restrictions are taking away from the economy.
sa国际传媒滻tsa国际传媒檚 been business as usual, but from talking with customers it feels like people are doing house parties now, which kinda sucks,sa国际传媒� said Barron.
sa国际传媒淭heysa国际传媒檝e taken the liquor away from restaurants and theysa国际传媒檙e just planning on drinking at house parties, which can get bigger and that sucks to see. In my opinion, I think it was silly to take (late-night liquor sales) away from the restaurants.sa国际传媒�
READ MORE: B.C. to shut down nightclubs, banquet halls; limit late-night alcohol sales at bars
READ MORE: Nightclub closures, liquor sale limits a sa国际传媒榩unch in the gut,sa国际传媒� B.C. industry group says
Henry said the closures were necessary after it became clear that banquet halls and nightclubs became sa国际传媒渉igh-risk placessa国际传媒� that were unable to bring in enough safety measures to keep guests safe.
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 going to be a challenging time for those businesses,sa国际传媒� Henry acknowledged.
sa国际传媒淭hese restrictions will take away that late-night temptation people have, when we know theresa国际传媒檚 been mixing (of social groups) going on and transmission is happening in these venues.sa国际传媒�
As to what qualifies as a nightclub, she said it would be those establishments whose sa国际传媒渟ole purpose is entertainment and liquor service.sa国际传媒�
Henry said that she is not currently considering shutting down dine-in service at bars and restaurants altogether at the moment.
sa国际传媒淚 use orders as a last resortsa国际传媒e do it for things where we know it will make a difference,sa国际传媒� Henry said.
