Liquor Update:
These changes apply to the following licences:
- Manufacturer
What’s changing
Section 34 of the Liquor Control and Licensing Regulation is amended to authorize two types of areas under a picnic area endorsement:
- One sale area
- One or more consumption-only areas
New Picnic Endorsement Sale Area
A manufacturer may now sell and serve their products by the glass in a picnic sale area. Liquor consumption is also permitted in a sale area.
Conditions for the new sale area include:
- The sale area must be no more than 300 square metres
- No more than 30 people are permitted in the sale area and signage indicating maximum person capacity must be posted for visitors to see
- The sale and service of liquor is permitted from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. or a half-hour after sunset, whichever is earlier
- The sale area may only have temporary and removable furnishings like picnic tables and umbrellas
- There must be clearly marked boundaries around the sale area separating it from the consumption-only area and other licensed/unlicensed areas on the manufacturing site
What’s staying the same
All areas under the picnic area endorsement must not exceed 1000 square metres.
- For example, if your sale area is the maximum of 300 square metres, the consumption-only areas must not exceed 700 square metres
The conditions for the consumption-only area(s) have not changed. For example:
- Liquor service, including sales of packaged liquor, is prohibited in the consumption-only area(s)
- Consumption-only areas must close no later than half an hour after sunset
- Patrons may consume liquor they have been sold or served in other service areas at the site, including an on-site store, in the consumption-only area(s)
Terms and conditions
To read all the rules for these changes, please refer to the:
Helpful information
If you have a Temporary Expanded Service Area (TESA)
Manufacturers that have a Temporary Expanded Service Area (TESA) for outdoor sampling can now apply for a picnic area endorsement to make their TESA permanent. Applications can be submitted in the liquor and cannabis licensing portal. It’s free to apply.
If you have a picnic area endorsement
To add a new sale area, submit a “change to an approved picnic area endorsement” application in the portal.
If you don’t have a picnic area endorsement
To apply for a picnic area endorsement, submit a “picnic area endorsement” application in the portal.
Applicants must declare zoning and person capacity approval from their local government or First Nation when applying for a picnic area endorsement.
Applicants located within the Agricultural Land Reserve must ensure their proposed picnic areas comply with the Agricultural Land Commission’s Act and regulations. A sale area located within the Agricultural Land Reserve must not have ground cover (e.g., paving, gravel pad, concrete, etc.) unless otherwise approved by the Agricultural Land Commission.