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B.C. aims to simplify event and festival licensing
Event and festival organizers take note.
Liquor licensing for special events is moving online, beginning with a pilot program in Vancouver and Burnaby, as government continues cutting red tape for British Columbians.
The pilot, launching on Feb. 2, will test a new online application process to increase convenience and speed up approvals for small, low-risk events. During the pilot, applicants hosting events in Vancouver or Burnaby will be able to skip the paper application and can apply for a Special Occasion Licence (SOL) on their computer or mobile device – they will no longer have to visit a BC Liquor Store multiple times, or make trips to police stations and municipal halls, outlined a Ministry of Justice press release.
The online application will also enhance public safety by providing officials with information in real-time about events happening in their communities – as police and liquor inspectors will be able to run searches from their office or mobile devices.
The goal is to have any bugs worked out and the online system fully implemented starting in early April – in time for B.C.’s busy festival season.
Once the website is fully implemented, moving to an online system will save over 100,000 pieces of paper each year – the only paper involved will be the printed, approved licence that needs to be in plain view during events.
B.C.’s government processes up to 25,000 SOLs every year – from small weddings, club meetings and fundraisers to sports tournaments, music festivals, and food and beverage events – many of which can be approved immediately once the new online system is fully operational.
Larger festivals will be able to use one online application and pay one fee for an event that covers multiple locations, rather than having to submit multiple applications and fees. To ensure continued public safety, large-scale events will still be required to submit a site security plan, and will be able to do so online.
“As we make changes coming out of the Liquor Policy Review, we are focused on reducing red tape and increasing convenience without sacrificing health and public safety. We heard from many individuals and groups concerned that the Special Occasion Licence process was onerous, time-consuming and inconvenient for everyone involved – so we committed to changing it,” stated Suzanne Anton, Attorney General and Minister of Justice.
“This pilot is the first step toward a paper-free, streamlined application process for Special Occasion Licences. Not only will the move to an online system improve the speed and efficiency at which applicants are able to obtain their licence, it will increase the link to public health and safety – as police and liquor inspectors will have all the information they need at their fingertips,” she added.
The move will free up time for police officers, noted Vancouver Police Department superintendent Michelle Davey.
“The Vancouver Police Department supports initiatives that promote the safe and responsible consumption of liquor. Government’s online Special Occasion Licensing program aims to streamline the application process, provide immediate access to event-related information, and free up police resources so we can focus on other incidents taking place in the city,” she said.
One of the first larger festivals to switch to the online application system will be the Vancouver International Wine Festival – a multi-day, multi-location event that attracts some of the biggest industry names from around the world. The festival, which raises funds for the Bard on the Beach Theatre Society, will be an integral participant in the pilot.
“We are looking forward to taking part in the pilot program – we’re pleased to test this new system of an online application that provides us with a checklist of everything we need in advance of applying, and allows us to apply for multiple sites at once. We anticipate this will save our staff some time and effort, which we will now be able to direct to pulling off another incredible Vancouver International Wine Festival,” offered Randy Kaardal, board chair of the Vancouver International Wine Festival.
During the pilot and roll out period there will be no fee changes. Licences for family and other invitation-only, private events will continue to cost $25 per day, while events where the general public may attend will cost $100 per day.
During the Liquor Policy Review, government also heard from stakeholders that the SOL fee structure needs improvement, and these fees are currently under review.
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