Hot on the heels of the altering of the Resort Municipality Act that allows for the creation of a municipality without residents, the provincial government earlier this week announced a change loosening rules in how liquor service can be provided at resorts.

General stores in destination resort communities can now apply for the ability to provide liquor service, thanks to a change in rural agency store policy announced today by Minister of Energy and Mines Rich Coleman.

Previously, the policy stated the resort must have substantial permanent accommodation for tourists. Following an amendment, the word ‘permanent’ has been removed to allow popular destinations with recreation mobile homes to open rural agency stores and better serve tourists.

Rural agency store regulations allow the sale of alcohol in rural communities and major tourist destination resorts in B.C. where no other liquor store service exists.

According to a ministry press release the criteria for establishing a rural agency store in a tourist destination resort are:

* The proposed location is a minimum of 10-kilometres driving distance from the nearest existing liquor store, where access is by all-weather road.

* A rural agency store will not be authorized within city limits or within the municipal boundaries of an urban community.

* The resort must have substantial accommodation for tourists.

* There is a suitable business to accommodate a rural agency store such as an independently-owned full-service general grocery store, which has been in business for at least one year, whose business is not associated in any manner with a chain store operation.

* The community must support the establishment of a rural agency store.

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