The City of Vancouver wants feedback on how it should handle hooch.
A second round of public consultation was launched last week to examine how the city can “improve experiences around liquor in Vancouver.”
Based on public feedback heard earlier this year, the city developed draft recommendations that will shape what will become the Vancouver Liquor Strategy.
Those 18 recommendations and potential actions cover topics around when liquor is sold, made or served; size of venues that serve liquor; rules for patios and options for no or low-liquor entertainment.
Feedback from the survey, which is open until Sept. 25, will help shape the final recommendations that go to council later this year.
The review was initiated last spring, when the city began consulting residents and businesses to update the way the city approaches liquor-related policies.
The first survey was launched in April, and 9,000 people took part.
Some of the key findings include:
• 90 per cent of respondents agreed that it should be easier to create outdoor patios.
• 89 per cent of respondents agreed that the liquor industry is good for the local economy.
• 79 per cent respondents agreed that bars should be required to meet training and operating standards.
• 75 per cent of respondents agreed that Vancouver’s arts, culture and social life relies on liquor to be successful.
Vancouver has 1,300 restaurants and 300 venues — bars, clubs and theatres — where liquor is accessible.
It’s not all fun and games though, as statistics from Vancouver Coastal Health suggest hospital visits due to alcohol overdose have risen sharply over the last seven years: 75 per cent for men and 50 per cent for women.
The online survey is at http://vancouver.ca/doing-business/liquor-strategy-survey.aspx.
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@JohnKurucz
