The Spike Pub & Liquor Store - ABLE BC

President's Message
Al McCreary, President, ABLE BC
The spring and early summer of 2010 were a tough time for many operators
with poor weather and slow sales through until the end of June. While business
has picked up for many pubs and liquor stores in July, it is not all good news.
While our businesses were quiet early Spring, the government was busy working
away on legislative changes that will impact our industry in many ways. Some
of these changes are already hurting our businesses, some will have a positive
impact, and some will change the way we do business and how government
holds us accountable on complying with the law.
A new law, which is no doubt creating as much chatter in your establishments as
it is in mine, changes the penalties for drinking and driving. More specific factbased
information on these changes has been provided by the Superintendent
of Motor Vehicles and can be found further into this edition of The Publican.
Like or loathe these changes, one thing is for certain - despite the fact that the
law doesn’t come into effect until sometime in the fall; people are changing
their behaviour now. As fewer people are willing to have just one drink and
then drive, these changing behaviours have already caused a decline in sales
in a lot of pubs around BC, despite the fact that the new penalties are not yet
in effect. So whether you want to see these new laws repealed or made even
stronger, we are all faced with the same daunting dilemma of making it work
for our businesses, which depend on liquor sales.
So, what can we do
Is this just another nail in the coffin for the pub business Maybe, but I think
we need to find a way to look at it as an opportunity. I know my pub’s viability
requires that I do that. Remember that Designated Driving Program you used
to have in your establishment We all used to have them, and some of you
still might, but most of us have stopped promoting it. You might still have the
posters and or coasters collecting dust in your storage room. Well let’s dust
those off and breathe new life into that Designated Driver program! Remember
when a designated driver got free pop all night Maybe it was a free appetizer,
or a Virgin Caesar. Treating designated drivers like VIPs because they are going
to get their drinking friends home safely is certainly a viable and successful
solution to our dilemma. While the DD’s friends spend money in your business,
without having to worry about how they will get home, the DD will remember
this treatment and is more likely to come back to your place when it is his or
her turn to have a few drinks while someone else drives.
Cabs, transit, and arranging drop-offs and pick-ups can be expensive or just plain
impossible. Often having a designated driver is the only viable option, but we
all know it can be a difficult role to fill. Let’s face it, we no longer have to work
just to attract our drinking patrons, but maybe more so their designated drivers.
Let’s work together to make this role more enticing. Treat your designated driver
customers like VIPs and remind your customers that the best way to avoid
drinking and driving is a little pre-planning and a willingness to enjoy a night
of mocktails instead of cocktails every once in a while, in the name of safety.
4 The Publican