Selling alcohol with takeout and delivery in BC: what the regulation lets a food primary licence do

Wine with a takeout dinner was an emergency measure in 2020, and it is now part of the regulation. For a BC restaurant it is one of the simplest ways to raise the average takeout order. The conditions are short but precise, and they come from the Liquor Control and Licensing Regulation.

Is it still allowed?

Yes. On 12 March 2021 the province announced that the temporary authorization allowing liquor primary and food primary licensees to sell and deliver sealed, packaged liquor alongside the purchase of a meal for off-site consumption was permanent. The regulation text now carries it as section 16.1 for food primary licences and section 9.1 for liquor primary licences. The consolidation is current to 3 November 2026.

What exactly does a food primary licence authorize?

Section 16.1 authorizes a licensee to:

• deliver and sell liquor in unopened containers to patrons outside the establishment
• sell liquor in unopened containers to patrons and, in the service area, hand it over so the patron can take it out of the establishment
• put a drink containing liquor into a container and deliver and sell it, or sell and hand it over, in the same ways

It also authorizes a patron who has taken possession of the liquor in that way to remove it from the establishment.

What is the condition?

A sale of liquor under section 16.1 must occur in conjunction with the sale of a meal for consumption outside the establishment. Liquor on its own is not covered. And for a food primary licence these activities are authorized only when the primary purpose of the business carried on in the service area is the service of food. A business that has drifted toward being a bar needs to think about which licence it holds.

Can you sell cocktails to go?

The regulation lets a licensee enclose a drink containing liquor in a container and deliver and sell it, or sell and transfer possession of it, under the same meal condition. Beyond that, the LCRB sets terms and conditions and policy directives on how drinks are packaged and handed over. Check the current LCRB guidance before you put cocktails on your takeout menu.

Who may deliver, and what training do they need?

The province's 2021 release says individuals who deliver liquor on behalf of licensees must be certified with Serving It Right, and that existing safeguards such as identity verification continue. Treat every driver, whether staff or contractor, as someone who needs the certificate before they carry a bottle. The wider course rules are in liquor licences and Serving It Right.

What about third-party apps?

The release speaks of delivery by or on behalf of licensees. If you use a platform, ask whether its drivers are certified and how age is checked at the door, and get the answer in writing. The platform fee rules are in BC's delivery app fee cap.

What tax applies?

Liquor carries PST at 10 percent, per the Ministry of Finance's small business guide. See GST, PST and liquor tax for how to show it on a takeout receipt, and who collects PST on platform orders.

What about a licence that is not food primary?

Section 9.1 gives liquor primary licensees the same delivery and takeout authority, with the same meal condition, so a pub with a kitchen can sell a bottle with a meal for off-site consumption. What the regulation does not do is let either licence sell liquor on its own for takeout. If you want to sell bottles without a meal, you need a different kind of licence, and the LCRB can tell you which.

A takeout alcohol checklist

1. Confirm your licence type, and that food is still your primary purpose.
2. Build a "with a meal" rule into the online menu so liquor cannot be added alone.
3. Use unopened containers, or the enclosed-drink route the regulation allows.
4. Check identity at hand-over or at the door.
5. Make sure every driver holds Serving It Right.
6. Train staff on what to do if a customer appears intoxicated.

If you are expanding to an outdoor area too, read serving liquor on a BC patio.

More in the Canadian guides for food businesses.