Vernon council stays out of liquor store regs
VERNON — Vernon council won’t be getting into regulating where liquor stores can be located in the city.
Council has decided not to take action on a request for a one kilometre distance rule between alcohol beverage retailers which the Alliance of Beverage Licensees had sought to protect the city’s existing 10 private liquor stores.
Councillor Dalvir Nahal is upset with council’s decision.
“We have to think about our small businesses that are already operating here. We are going to create more minimum wage jobs and we will lose some good paying jobs, I can just see it happening. This is what happens every time a big retail store starts to sell something. It’s the small businesses that suffer,” Nahal told the media.
Loblaws — which operates Real Canadian Superstores — says its hoping to get a special license from the province to sell BC wines at its Vernon store.
“Our customers in Vernon are equally exited about the opportunity to purchase wine in grocery stores. A recent poll of more than 1,000 of our shoppers showed that 83% of respondents would support the Vernon RCSS offering BC wine to its customers, and would also consider purchasing BC wine at the store if available,” says Gord Chem, Senior vice president with Loblaws in Vancouver.
