AGLC Tells BC Wineries to Stop Selling Direct to Alberta Consumers
February 20, 2024
LCRB Bulletin 24-01 Allows Cannabis-Friendly Spaces & Promotion
March 12, 2024
As BC liquor license consultants, Thrive works with many food primary licensees providing liquor license application support and training and we’ve witnessed the many challenges the restaurant industry has faced in recent years. Since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, food service businesses have struggled to stay afloat. First it was closures, then employee shortages and the economy.
In March 2023, Restaurants Canada reported that the food services sector had a vacancy rate of 10.5% (double the industry average). 77% of food service businesses increased wages; 72% increased hours of existing staff to fill scheduling gaps, and 64% have reduced hours of operation because of staff shortages.
In the current economic environment, finding employees is hard enough, let alone finding employees that understand the importance of liquor licensing compliance. At the best of times, licensing compliance tends to take a back seat to other operational concerns. Business owners and managers are too busy running the restaurant, ensuring schedules are covered, and hiring to fill vacant positions.
Liquor License Compliance Issues Often Go Unnoticed
If your restaurant, like so many others, has high staff turnover, you know all too well the problems that arise. Plugging holes in your schedule and spending time interviewing, hiring and onboarding new staff are your primary concerns. So, you shine the light on what’s in front of you and narrow your focus, tending to the basic operational needs of your business. Then, it’s often “rinse ‘n repeat”. Compliance issues may go unnoticed because your attention is elsewhere and time is consumed putting out the biggest fire: maintaining adequate staffing levels. In this environment, liquor license compliance isn’t your priority, but, if your employees aren’t trained to safeguard your liquor license, who is?
New Hire Onboarding is the Best Time for Compliance Training
The best time for BC liquor license compliance training is during employee onboarding. Building compliance training into your onboarding routine ensures that new employees protect your hard-earned food primary license from the start. A compliance manual, including daily compliance checklists, can be the backbone of training.
While Thrive is known for liquor license application support services, we provide many other operational services including employee acquisition services and liquor licensing training.
Annual Liquor License Compliance Training & Audit
Although we recommend making liquor license compliance training part of your employee onboarding process, an annual compliance audit and staff training session(s) are also important.
Thrive Liquor & Cannabis Advisors can:
- Inspect your restaurant for compliance issues and make recommendations
- Provide group compliance training for employees. Employees learn about relevant liquor laws and responsible service as outlined in the section “Providing Safe and Responsible Service” of the Food Primary Terms & Conditions Handbook.
New to liquor licensing? Read “5 Things You Need to Know About BC Liquor Licensing” and learn about our service for LCRB licensees.
Get Thrive Makes BC Liquor License Compliance Easier than You Think!
If you have questions about BC liquor license compliance training, compliance audits or restaurant employee acquisition services, book a free consultation with Thrive Liquor & Cannabis Advisors.
