N.S. liquor licence change good for restaurants, customers: Restaurants Canada

Halifax – Changes to Nova Scotia Liquor Licensing Regulations will allow restaurant owners to better serve their customers.

The changes, announced on Tuesday, allow restaurant guests to order up to two alcoholic drinks without buying food, Restaurants Canada said in a news release. Before this change, customers could order only an alcoholic drink without food in a separate area with a lounge licence.

Restaurateurs no longer have to carry a second, costly lounge licence to cater to guests who just want an alcoholic drink. The change also helps restaurants that are prohibited from a lounge licence due to municipal zoning or simply being located in one of the 105 “dry areas” in the province.

“Restaurant owners and their guests are pleased with this change because it removes an unnecessary business barrier and allows better customer service,” said Luc Erjavec, vice-president of the Atlantic region for Restaurants Canada. “Before this change, restaurateurs in some parts of the province couldn’t fully meet their customers’ needs. The government has reduced red tape, while allowing us to serve our customers in a socially responsible manner.”

Restaurants Canada’s 2015 Raise the Bar report highlighted the need for this change in liquor rules. Restaurants Canada worked closely with Service Nova Scotia and the Office of Regulatory Affairs and Service Effectiveness to bring about this change.

Review the updated regulation. https://www.novascotia.ca/JUST/REGULATIONS/regs/lclicens.htm