British Columbians now can offer their ideas on how to make balanced, common-sense changes to B.C.'s liquor laws through a new website launched today.

Parliamentary Secretary for Liquor Reform John Yap launched the new Liquor Policy Review website - www.gov.bc.ca/liquorpolicyreview - while touring Steamworks Brewing Co.'s new facility in Burnaby. Yap is inviting British Columbians to get involved with the site - through blog discussions, Twitter chats and feedback forms - to better understand B.C.'s liquor system and to offer vital input on ways to improve it. The goal of government's review is to find changes to B.C.'s laws on the use and sale of beer, wine and spirits that improve customer convenience and grow B.C.'s economy, while ensuring public health and safety.

The new website broadens the consultation to include all British Columbians. Along with logging public input and generating discussion, the website features written submissions provided by stakeholders, video blogs from Yap and an archival look at B.C.'s liquor history, as well as answers to commonly held questions around the production, sale and consumption of beer, wine and spirits.

Input will be gathered until the Liquor Policy Review consultation process ends on Oct. 31, 2013, with a final report to be presented to Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton by Nov. 25, 2013.

Quotes:

Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton -

"Our government has been hearing from industry and stakeholders about changes they would like made to B.C.'s liquor laws. This is the first review to take place in over a decade and the time is now to also hear from British Columbians."

"Our government has created this website to stir discussion, and to collect ideas for common-sense changes that balance consumer convenience and economic activity with public health and safety."

Parliamentary Secretary for Liquor Policy Reform John Yap -

"I've already been able to meet with a number of industry and stakeholder groups to listen to their feedback and ideas on liquor reform, but I know British Columbians have many opinions of their own as well."

"We want to hear all of those over the next six weeks and I'm looking forward to actively engaging with people around the province through social media during that time to hear their ideas and their stories."

President of Steamworks Brewing Co. Walter Cosman -

"Steamworks is making a significant investment in Burnaby that will create approximately 20 new jobs in addition to the 200 people employed in our iconic Gastown Brew Pub."

"The renaissance of craft brewing presents significant opportunities for increased tourism, jobs, and spin-off benefits for both the Province and local communities throughout B.C. We welcome an opportunity to add our view to help update the Province's liquor policies to help make this opportunity a reality."

Learn More:

Visit the Liquor Policy Review Website at: www.gov.bc.ca/liquorpolicyreview

Read about practical reforms made to B.C.'s liquor laws over the past two years: www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/lclb/docs-forms/ModernizingLiquorLaws.pdf

Parliamentary Secretary John Yap's letter and terms of reference are at: www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/public/lclb/YapTermsOfReference.pdf

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 213-3602