Nova Scotians can now order cocktails and mixed drinks with their delivery and take-out food orders from bars and restaurants.
The province says it’s making amendments to the Liquor Licensing Regulations during the provincial state of emergency to help support the industry.
Government says the changes create more variety as bars and restaurants now have the option to include cocktails and mixed drinks for delivery or take-out.
The changes expand the list of alcoholic beverages allowed with food orders to include manufactured ready-to-drink products like coolers. They also allow higher-end wines to be sold as the value of a bottle of wine that can be included with a home delivery has been increased to more than three times the cost of the food order.
“These changes respond to what we have heard from the restaurant, bar and tourism sectors as ways to support and evolve their businesses,” Service Nova Scotia and Internal Services Minister Patricia Arab said in a news release. “But above all, these changes retain rules and oversight that support the responsible use and serving of alcohol.”
Other changes include simplifying rules for operators who have both an eating establishment and a lounge license at the same location. All licensed bars and restaurants can now sell or dispense liquor on Sundays starting at 10 a.m. Previously, lounge licensees couldn’t open until noon.
Youth under 19 can stay with a parent or guardian in all licensed establishments that have food service for one extra hour, until 10 p.m.
“We are very grateful for the government taking a very positive step for cocktail bars, cocktail-focused restaurants, and small businesses.” Matte Boyle, co-owner of Dear Friend and The Clever Barkeep in Dartmouth, said in a news release. “We think this is going to be a lifeline for a lot of us. The more ‘inflatable pools’ (our best-selling cocktail) we can sell, the longer we can stay afloat.”
Changes have also been made under the Emergency Management Act, and will continue until the state of emergency ends.
These amendments allow for third-party delivery services and drivers to deliver alcohol with food so long as certain conditions are met, including completing training and implementing a 15 per cent cap on fees bars and restaurants pay for third-party deliveries as well as a 10 per cent cap if a customer uses a food delivery app.
The changes came into effect on Wednesday.
