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 doesn含羞草研究社檛 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 hasn含羞草研究社檛 stopped at 10 p.m., noting many of her customers are flocking to house parties or even partying in the streets after closing time.
含羞草研究社淎 lot of our sales are post 10 p.m含羞草研究社� we含羞草研究社檙e seeing a massive decrease in sales,含羞草研究社� said Dunham.
含羞草研究社淲e still think that there含羞草研究社檚 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 don含羞草研究社檛 really see (how the new restrictions) are going to make a difference. We含羞草研究社檙e finding that people are just parting in the streets so we含羞草研究社檙e then trying to police outside.含羞草研究社�
Kelly O含羞草研究社橞ryan含羞草研究社檚 Neighbourhood Restaurant, located directly across the street from Craft, has seen a similar trend. Cassidy Barron, manager of Kelly O含羞草研究社橞ryans said she hasn含羞草研究社檛 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.
含羞草研究社滻t含羞草研究社檚 been business as usual, but from talking with customers it feels like people are doing house parties now, which kinda sucks,含羞草研究社� said Barron.
含羞草研究社淭hey含羞草研究社檝e taken the liquor away from restaurants and they含羞草研究社檙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.含羞草研究社�
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 含羞草研究社榩unch in the gut,含羞草研究社� B.C. industry group says
Henry said the closures were necessary after it became clear that banquet halls and nightclubs became 含羞草研究社渉igh-risk places含羞草研究社� that were unable to bring in enough safety measures to keep guests safe.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 going to be a challenging time for those businesses,含羞草研究社� Henry acknowledged.
含羞草研究社淭hese restrictions will take away that late-night temptation people have, when we know there含羞草研究社檚 been mixing (of social groups) going on and transmission is happening in these venues.含羞草研究社�
As to what qualifies as a nightclub, she said it would be those establishments whose 含羞草研究社渟ole purpose is entertainment and liquor service.含羞草研究社�
Henry said that she is not currently considering shutting down dine-in service at bars and restaurants altogether at the moment.
含羞草研究社淚 use orders as a last resort含羞草研究社e do it for things where we know it will make a difference,含羞草研究社� Henry said.
