Bring Your Own Wine
(BYOW)
After consulting with liquor and food service industry stakeholders, changes have been made to provincial liquor laws and policies to permit patrons to bring their own wine to participating restaurants, remove partially consumed wine from a restaurant, and to permit commercial catering companies to be licensed to serve/sell liquor at public and private events. Class A (minors allowed restaurants) B and C licensed premises will be permitted to have patrons’ wine brought in to the establishment. When requested, Class A, B and C licensees will be obligated to recork partially consumed bottles to be taken home by the customer.
The amendments to the regulation also enable commercial caterers to apply for a liquor licence to provide accompanying liquor service to the consumer. Licensed catering companies will provide the consumer with a more complete and more professional service offering. Licensees will be subject to all AGLC policies governing the sale and service of liquor.
This change to Alberta’s liquor laws gives consumers and the food services industry a new choice for liquor service while maintaining existing regulations that serve to ensure responsible sales and consumption of alcohol.
Restaurants or clubs may choose individually if they wish to allow patrons to bring their own wine – customers should call first to ask if these services are offered.
When a customer arrives in a restaurant or club, they would indicate to the staff they have their own wine and would turn it over to the staff for serving. The wine would then be served in the same manner as wine selected from the menu. Restaurants or clubs that choose this option will be allowed to determine and charge a ‘corkage fee’ for this service. Homemade wine is not allowed.
Upon request, licensed premises will also be required to recork partially consumed bottles of wine, allowing patrons to take the remaining wine home with them. This will help ensure the responsible consumption of liquor – customers won’t feel compelled to finish a bottle of wine at the restaurant. Existing rules for the transportation of liquor still apply. The recorked bottle cannot be within easy access to occupants of the vehicle.
Once again, Alberta is taking a progressive approach to consumer choice.
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