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