2 ~ Wednesday, January 27. 1999 - North Shore News lead liquor case in N. Van City Pubs p Liam Lahey Contributing Writer PROPOSED c*anges to B.C.’s liquor laws that would allow for restaurants to serve alcohol without food have North Vancouver City’s neighbourhood pubs crying foul. Speaking before couacil an Monday, David Crown, dirce- tor of the Neighbourhood Pub Owners’ Association (NPOA), said large restaurant chains would profit from such a manceuvre at the expense of many small businesses. “Every restaurant in the citv would have the potential to operate as a bar. You would have restaurants — offering cheap drink specidis and St beers,” Crown said. “Cheap drinks produce cheap drunks ... up until now there has been community involvement in the locations of all neighbourhood pubs, this would disappear.” Earlier this month West Vancouver supported a pub Owner’s argument to stave off changes to the B.C.’s liquor faws that would allow restau- rants to serve liquor without food. A delegation representing pub owners appeared before North Vancouver District Dec. 21. Council responded by asking for a staff report on the issue, which it received Jan. 4. Said Crown, “It has taken north vancouver City Councii 23 sears tor B.C. to place 350 pabs throughout the province with community input. “Adowing liquor without food would potentially put 5,000 bars in BoC. overnight,” he continued. “Restaurants could now have all wpes of entertainment including that which is presently restricted to age restricted establishments. This is a (restaurant) ‘chain- driven’ initiative. “The national chains want to pick locations and build under the diswuise of being 2 restaurant and turn into a bar without any public process... for example, in Alberta a chain Vike Boston Pizza sold 19,60 kegs of beer last year. In B.C. the same chain sold) only 1,300 keys of beer.” In November last vear, the B.C. government: announced it would conduct 2 review of the province's liquor licensing system. Coun. Barbara Perrault asked Crown if he encouraged his staff to serve food to patrons at his pub, Crown responded, “We're a drinking establishment. No.” Coun. Darrell Mussatto told council ir was their duty to protect the pubs in North Vancouver. “I suggest we write a ictrer to the Attorney General and tell him we oppose the changes for alcohol to be served without food.” he said. "Clearh, ws Ga case att evtrome discruminagion to local puts wher went te great pany ote obtain ther liquor lenses this would be extremely untar and many pubs owners would be at isk of losing their businesses. 7 Perrauh agreed Mussatto. “TL hate to be retrogressive, but Precall when | was young we had beer parfours.” she remarked. “L also recall terri- ble car accidents as a result of indulging in alcohol... this «the proposed changes) is def- initely backwards.” Coun. Stella Jo Dean was not nearly as anxious to con- demn the provincial goveri- ment’s proposal, citing 3 hypocrisy on the NPOA's behalf. “Fd like to see what this is all about (the changes),” Dean said. “Neighbourhood pub owners are going to gang up on the restaurant: industry, well P think there should be a level playing fickd. We have a Jot of whiners here against the restaurants.” Added Mavor Jack Loucks, “What we're trying to do is protect. our municipalicy against a multiplicity of liquor establishments... ['ve seen some of the problems with the location of pubs, we don't want pubs (and bars) every- where.” City council voted 4-1. in favour of taking action against the proposed changes and agreed to send a letter to the Attorney General's office. with A WORLD OF FLAVOURS IN YOUR HAND Marc, Lisa and Taylor take great pride in their Polywood Shutters & Blinds. Bam You