City officials in Vancouver have approved bylaw changes that will allow some establishments to extend their liquor-serving hours.
On Tuesday, July 22, Vancouver City Council approved the changes, with amendments, but that does not mean that your favourite pub or bar can immediately stay open later to serve you a beer or cocktail at 3 a.m.
Essentially, the new bylaws aren't a blanket rule, but allow establishments to apply for permission to serve alcohol earlier and later.
Let's break down what's happening with Vancouver's liquor bylaws.
Changes for bars, pubs, and nightclubs: Opening earlier or later
Bars, pubs, and nightclubs (collectively liquor establishments, which have liquor primary licenses) can now apply to open earlier (as early as 9 a.m.) any day of the week.
Currently, some are allowed to do so if they have a special license. The new changes allow any liquor primary licence holder in Vancouver to apply to open at 9 a.m.
At the same time, bars, pubs, and nightclubs can also apply to be open later. The new bylaws aim to simplify things, splitting the city into a couple of zones.
The zones will essentially be:
- Downtown (the downtown peninsula excluding the DTES and Strathcona)
- Not Downtown (everywhere else in the City of Vancouver)
Downtown establishments can apply to be open to 4 a.m. seven days a week.
For areas outside the downtown, those businesses can apply to serve alcohol until 2 a.m. on weeknights and 3 a.m. on weekends.
At the same time, establishments can apply for temporary extensions to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. for special events. The new changes broaden what those special events could be.
How the bylaw changes impact restaurants
The rules for restaurants that serve alcohol have been updated as well.
Previously, they could apply to serve until 2 a.m. on weekends and 1 a.m. on weekdays. Now it's 2 a.m. the whole week.
Changes 'part of a bigger push to modernize outdated rules': Mayor Ken Sim
The city has also updated rules around security requirements "to provide more flexibility to operators," according to a city press release.
And new business with liquor licences won't have probationary restrictions on operating hours.
"Extending liquor hours is part of a bigger push to modernize outdated rules, cut red tape, and create conditions for businesses to thrive," said Mayor Ken Sim in a statement.
When will the new bylaws go into effect?
According to the City: Updates will be enacted into the bylaws in the fall. Businesses interested in extending their hours can apply through the provincial Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB), with City input and public consultation forming part of the review process.
What's the plan for keeping people safe?
The City of Vancouver says the Vancouver Police Department will monitor any potential impacts of these liquor service changes and the City will reassess its policies as needed to support public safety and neighbourhood livability.
City Council also instructed staff to report back on whether additional funding is needed to support sexual violence prevention programs, including initiatives like Good Night Out, the B.C. non-profit that focuses on prevention and education.
Will SkyTrain run later now?
The short answer is no.
The City of Vancouver and TransLink continue to collaborate on late-night transit, confirming in April that findings from TransLink’s 2019 study—namely, that extending SkyTrain service past 1 a.m. is unfeasible due to essential overnight maintenance—remain valid.
While SkyTrain cannot currently operate later, TransLink provides overnight service through its NightBus network, which begins after SkyTrain ends and serves major corridors across Metro Vancouver.
Plans to expand late-night bus service exist under TransLink’s “Access for Everyone” strategy, but implementation depends on future funding, as its 2025 investment plans do not support significant service expansion.
Past updates and further reading
Laws regarding liquor in B.C. and Vancouver have shifted a lot over the last 140 years. Major events like Expo 86 and even the 2022 World Cup have led to changes around alcohol and places that serve it.
The full report, called "Liquor Establishments and Restaurants Regulatory Review," is available to read online. The report contains maps of the zones, a report from Vancouver Coastal Health, the names of people and businesses consulted, and draft bylaws.
