Saskatchewan earns C-minus grade on pandemic liquor policy

REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN, July 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The grades are in: For the fourth time since 2015, Restaurants Canada has given every province a report card on how industry-friendly their liquor policy panorama is for bars and eating places.

In this yr’s report, Saskatchewan failed to enhance its grade from a C-minus as a consequence of a scarcity of progress on key asks from Restaurants Canada’s earlier report in 2019, which referred to as for a discount in extreme liquor markups, wholesale pricing for all liquor licensees, and a liquor server wage. The province additionally misplaced marks because of the lengthy, disruptive lapse in its policy permitting alcohol gross sales with takeout and supply orders through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This essential policy was sadly eradicated with out session in July 2021, and was lastly reinstated in November 2021 in response to Restaurants Canada’s advocacy efforts.

“Saskatchewan needs to take decisive action to provide licensed establishments with more meaningful cost relief and move ahead with a comprehensive review of liquor policies, as was previously promised by the government,” stated Jennifer Henshaw, Restaurants Canada’s Director of Provincial Government Relations for Western Canada. “Restaurants Canada is also calling on the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority to improve communications with the province’s foodservice industry as struggling bars and restaurants continue to work towards recovery.”

Here’s how Saskatchewan’s efficiency document on Restaurants Canada’s Raise the Bar report compares with the remainder of the provinces:

How can Saskatchewan elevate the bar?

Restaurants Canada is constant to work with the Saskatchewan authorities, particularly with the SLGA, to enhance the liquor policy panorama for bars and eating places. Here’s how the province can enhance its grade by the subsequent Raise the Bar report:

• Make wholesale pricing accessible to all liquor licensees, for every type of beverage alcohol merchandise;
• Continue to chop purple tape and cut back prices for licensed institutions;
• Introduce a liquor server wage; and
• Continue efforts to enhance the method for ordering non-stocked merchandise.

Visit restaurantscanada.org/sources/raise-the-bar-2022 to obtain the complete report and be part of within the on-line dialog with the hashtag #RaiseTheBar2022.

About Restaurants Canada

Restaurants Canada is a nationwide, not-for-profit affiliation advancing the potential of Canada’s numerous and dynamic foodservice {industry} by way of member packages, analysis, advocacy, sources and occasions. Before the COVID-19 disaster, Saskatchewan’s $2.4 billion restaurant {industry} was the province’s third-largest supply of personal sector jobs, usually using greater than 39,000 folks. Saskatchewan’s bars and eating places are nonetheless struggling to rebound from at the least $500 million in misplaced income and get better 1000’s of jobs within the wake of the pandemic.

• Raise the Bar 2022: Report Card on Provincial Liquor Policies for Bars and Restaurants