The Saskatchewan government has announced that effective immediately, restaurants able to serve liquor are also able to deliver liquor. The regulatory change does not mean such restaurants will be able to sell or advertise alcohol in a retail setting – an equivalent purchase of food is necessary for the sale.
Age requirements still apply to servers and delivery drivers completing alcohol-related orders. Delivery drivers will also need to check IDs at the door to ensure that they are not delivering to minors.
Jim Reiter, Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority, acknowledged that pandemic measures have had a disproportionate effect on service industries. “These regulatory changes will provide additional service options for liquor-permitted restaurants and retailers to consider.”
Alex Carlton, owner of The Crushed Can Rec Room & Bar, and of Cask 82 Ale & Table, says the concession is not going to provide the help his business could use.
“It’s a far cry from what’s going on in our industry right now. If your restaurant is built on dine-in customers and functions being booked, it’s especially been a tough go. You’re down 50-75% in sales, and your overhead hasn’t changed.”
Carlton says that obviously, he and his business want people to be safe, and they want to help with fighting the pandemic. However, he says they have been doing their part for two years, and they need bigger changes.
“Them doing this doesn’t make us a delivery business,” Carlton says, “I have a large space and a large overhead, and this isn’t going to help me pay those bills… this is the government putting out an olive branch, trying to show they’re doing something for us, but you’re going to see small businesses can only take so much. We can’t do this for another two years, certainly.”
The owner of The Mad Greek, John Iatridis, agrees that being able to deliver liquor or provide it for takeout won’t make a significant difference.
“I honestly don’t know if we’ll ever do it at my restaurant,” he says. He points out that his servers and his business space are subject to strict regulations governing who they can sell alcohol to.
“It makes me uneasy. They make sure our compliance is so strict in the restaurant, but now we’re able to take liquor on deliveries?” Iatridis worries that the plan has not been thoroughly considered, and that he and his employees might make unintentional mistakes that could be a liability.
“I honestly don’t know if we’ll ever do it at my restaurant,” he commented. Even if they do, he agrees with Alex Carlton that it would not boost sales enough for locally-owned restaurants.
“I understand they’re trying to help sales, but I don’t think it will work for my business.”
The press release can be read in full at Saskatchewan.ca/news.
UPDATED: Jim Reiter also clarified to the Moose Jaw Express that the regulatory changes were permanent. The first instance of allowing restaurants with liquor permits to include alcohol with takeout and delivery was a result of the initial Covid-19 emergency health order. When that order was lifted, the regulations reverted.
Reiter says that his office was approached by restaurants from around the province asking if alcohol takeout and delivery could be brought back. He added that several of those restaurants for whom the service is beneficial have already expressed appreciation. Reiter says that his office is always looking for ways to modernize liquor regulations.
