Quesnel Legion’s long-standing beer garden has been dealt a massive blow thanks to new regulations from the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch of the Ministry of Housing and Social Development.
According to new liquor laws, the beer garden doesn’t constitute a Billy Barker Days Festival event and therefore can’t operate the activity as they have for many years.
Historically, the Legion applied for their special occasion licence through the local liquor store, received endorsement from the RCMP and the city before ordering supplies for the beer garden.
Regulations surrounding the SOL also stipulated a maximum of two days in any given month, requiring the Legion to apply for an extension to include the Thursday of their typical three-day beer garden.
They were advised of the non-compliant aspects of their licence application, thus no licence would be issued.
In order for the beer garden to be attached to Billy Barker Days, the festival society would have had to apply for the licence, take on full responsibility for the event, be on site and purchase all the liquor supplies.
“We discussed the issue and determined we were not prepared to take on the legal responsibility for the beer garden,” Billy Barker Days Society treasurer Janice McLean said.
“We have no problem with the beer garden or the Legion, but with no expertise in this area we felt we couldn’t take it on.”
Legion manager Wanda Gibbons said the Legion totally understands the society’s position.
“This is a Legion issue and our problem to solve,” Gibbons said.
“We have always and still have an excellent relationship with the society.”
Legion president Neil Huntsley said the beer garden has been much more than a place to purchase alcohol.
“The beer garden has always been a meeting place for locals and especially for those coming back for the festival,” he said.
“It has always drawn people for socializing. The Legion members volunteering for the beer gardens always enjoyed that aspect of it as well.”
Gibbons added there would be financial consequences to this as well.
“Last year we made more than $6,000 which paid for our annual taxes,” she said.
“Now we are even more dependent on public support.”
McLean added the society would also miss the financial support they received from the beer garden.
Last year the society received more than $1,700 from the Legion directly from the beer garden.
“The loss from the beer garden is significant,” she said.
“Funds from the beer garden helped with the cost of entertainment and many other aspects of the festival.”
Quesnel Legion plans to operate the beer garden in the Legion hall and is looking to assure the public they are running it the same as the outside beer garden.
“We are looking to re-create the atmosphere, the same hours, the affordability, the security while adding the comfort of an inside venue,” she said.
“No matter whether it’s inside or out, we know the community will come out and support us.”
Huntsley feels the constantly changing regulations and restrictive nature of the liquor laws are very difficult to work with.
“I feel our liquor branch is really trying to put liquor outlets out of business,” he said.
Gibbons added they are definitely prepared to soldier on.
“This is a transition year, we’ve been handed challenges but we’re committed to offering the beer garden to the community,” she said.
