Liquor licences for BC restaurants: food primary or liquor primary, and who needs Serving It Right

If you plan to serve alcohol in British Columbia, the licence you choose decides much of what follows: whether children can sit at your tables, how much of your income must come from food, what hours you can keep and which training your team needs. The Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch issues the licences and publishes the terms and conditions. This guide is a plain-language overview of the Branch's published guidance, not a substitute for its own rules.

What is a food primary licence?

It is designed for a business whose main purpose is serving food, with liquor served in the service area alongside it. Most restaurants hold one. The government's Serving It Right site describes it as issued where the primary purpose is the service of food. Because food is the point, families and children can generally dine in, and the licence conditions are written around meals.

What is a liquor primary licence?

A liquor primary licence is for businesses whose main purpose is serving alcohol, such as pubs, bars and nightclubs. The rules around minors and hours differ, and a restaurant that wants to operate as a pub in the evening may need to consider which licence fits. If you are unsure, ask the Branch before you sign a lease on a premises.

Who needs a Serving It Right certificate?

The Serving It Right program is a mandatory self-study course on responsible alcohol service. According to the government site, licensees, managers and servers generally need the certificate, as do others who may be left in charge, and what you need depends on your licence type. The certificate expires five years after it is issued. For a restaurant with a food primary licence, that means anyone who takes alcohol orders or supervises the dining room. Print the certificates and keep copies on file, with their expiry dates.

What happens in the licensing process?

The application typically includes an interview about your plans and an inspection of the premises by a liquor inspector. Expect questions about your seating, your entrances, your food menu, your staff training and your plans for dealing with intoxicated guests. Local governments can also have a say, since a municipality may comment on a new licence. Ask the Branch how long your type of licence is taking, and do not set an opening date until it is issued.

Can you offer bring your own wine?

Since a 2012 change to the liquor regulation, restaurants in British Columbia can allow customers to bring their own wine. It is optional, and it covers wine only. Check the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch for the conditions that apply to your licence, including whether and how you may charge a corkage fee. If you offer it, state your terms clearly, print them on the menu, train staff to handle bottles and keep records. Some restaurants find that corkage brings in diners who would not otherwise come, while others find it undermines wine sales. Decide on the basis of your own numbers.

What responsibilities come with serving alcohol?

• You must not serve a person who appears intoxicated.
• You must not serve minors.
• You must check ID when in doubt.
• You are responsible for what happens on your premises, and you can be held liable for harm caused by over-service.
• You must keep your licence conditions and post any required notices.

Keep a written policy that staff sign, and a log for incidents. Call a taxi for guests who should not drive.

Can you run a happy hour?

Yes, within limits. The Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch's handbooks let food primary and liquor primary licensees vary their drink prices during service hours, as long as the price in each category of liquor stays at or above the provincial minimum. The minimums are listed in the Branch's handbook for your licence type, so read the current version before you print a price.

What taxes apply to alcohol?

Alcohol carries GST of 5 percent and PST of 10 percent in British Columbia, while food carries GST only. Set up your till so that each line is taxed properly.

Can the licence change as the business grows?

Yes, but not automatically. If you add a patio, change your capacity, extend your hours or start hosting events, the licence terms may need to be amended with the Branch before you do it. Local governments also regulate patios and noise through their own bylaws, so check with your city. Many owners find it simpler to ask for the structure they will need in two years, and then grow into it, than to apply for repeated changes. Keep copies of the licence and any amendments where managers can see them.

Which mistakes should you avoid?

1. Opening before the licence is issued.
2. Letting a new hire pour drinks before they have the certificate.
3. Failing to check the hours or conditions on the licence.
4. Treating a food primary licence as a bar licence in the evening.
5. Not keeping proof of staff training.

Where do you get help?

The Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch, your local government licensing office and the BC Restaurant and Food Services Association can all guide you. A hospitality lawyer is worth the cost if your plans are unusual.

More guides for your business:

• The Accessible BC Act and your restaurant website: what applies today and what to do anyway
• BC minimum wage for restaurants in 2026: 18.25 dollars, liquor servers and the June adjustment
• PST and GST for BC restaurants: what to charge on food, alcohol, takeout and gift cards

More in the Canadian guides for food businesses.