The Spike Pub & Liquor Store - ABLE BC

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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 So whether you want to see these new laws repealed or made even stronger, we are all faced with the same daunting dilemma of making it work for our businesses, which depend on liquor sales.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
Executive Director's Report by Kim Haakstad Union Organizing Drives The UFCW Union has been dropping (literally) pamphlets at liquor stores in the Metro Vancouver and Kootenay areas. The pamphlets promise higher wages if your staff join a union. For many small businesses, it is not feasible to have a union. Be proactive, know what other employers pay for similar jobs in your area, and do what you can to address staff inquiries and complaints as they arise. Want more information Check out three new resources on ABLE’s new website: Talking To Your Staff About Unions, How To Avoid Organizing Drives In Your Business, and What To Do When There Is An Organizing Drive (available to members only). Service to Minors and Intoxicated Patrons Recently a number of pubs and LRSs have received fines or suspensions for serving intoxicated patrons. Make sure your staff are monitoring customers in your businesses. Have staff check consumption patterns of each patron when possible, and support your staff in cutting customers off or declining service when necessary. Also, make sure your staff always ask, “May I see 2 pieces of ID” Minors will be coming into your establishments as secret shoppers, so make sure your staff are prepared. Remind them that liquor inspectors now have the ability to not only issue fines to the minors, but also to staff, and they will start issuing those tickets sometime this fall. For more information on how to improve your due diligence, check out the templates in the Members Only area of ABLE’s website. Need more 2 pieces of ID Required posters Call ABLE and they will be sent to you free of charge. Changes to Trade Practices As you may know, the provincial government is working on changes to the laws relating to the relationship your LP or LRS can have with liquor suppliers. ABLE has received some questions about how this will work. While we don’t know the details yet, the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch has assured us that ABLE will be consulted in the development of the new rules governing these relationships. Please feel free to let your regional ABLE director or the ABLE office know your opinions. Ability to Sell Pre-Mixed Drinks Have you always wanted a Bellini machine and couldn’t figure out why a certain chain of restaurants had them but your liquor inspector told you that you couldn’t Well, wonder no more. Changes to the Liquor Act now allow you to sell pre-mixed drinks to patrons - so get those slushy machines up and running before the summer sun is gone for another year. Door Staff Licensing It has now been almost ten months since the government started requiring door staff in licensed liquor establishments to be licensed. So far there has been little enforcement, but if you currently use door staff and do not have them licensed, we recommend you do so as soon as possible. Reminder - if you DO NOT currently use door staff, you do not need to start. If you do have your door staff licensed, we want to hear from you. What were the costs, challenge, and benefits, if any Renewal Time at ABLE Just a reminder that ABLE’s membership year is September 1 to August 31. Watch for your renewal packages in the mail. Not a member yet Been thinking about joining ABLE for a while but haven’t done it Nonmembers have probably noticed less and less free information is available on ABLE’s website. Members tell us that one of the biggest values of ABLE membership is timely access to quality information about our industry, so less information is being given away for free. ABLE has a new fee structure to reflect the LP- LRS separation - stand alone LPs or LRSs can now join ABLE for just $630! Check out ABLE’s website for more information on the benefits of ABLE membership at www.ablebc.ca. Join today and support your association! Visit the BC Hospitality Industry Conference & Exposition November 21- 23 The Publican 5
Page 1 and 2: the Publican The Alliance of Bevera
Page 3: On the Cover The Spike Pub & Liquor
Page 7 and 8: BC HOSPITALITY & Conference INDUSTR
Page 9 and 10: open at night, right That means you
Page 11 and 12: Digital Signage by Best Buy Take yo
Page 13 and 14: Human Resources by go2 Getting New
Page 15 and 16: When retail guru Robert Spector sha
Page 17 and 18: Cultivate the Purchase Experience E
Page 19 and 20: PERIOD 02 SALES - UNAUDITED Sales f
Page 21 and 22: " Superior food service in pubs is
Page 23 and 24: Controlling food cost has never bee
Page 25 and 26: What's New by Debbie Minke RTDs Can
Page 27 and 28: your operation and the community, a
Page 29 and 30: Liquor Policy and Business Review b
Page 31 and 32: TECH TRENDS What’s Out There, Wha
Page 33 and 34: In addition to Irish cream liqueurs
Page 35 and 36: Personal Best - Record the highest
Page 37 and 38: Marketplace Advertisers the Publica
Page 39: Rolling out our newest Racer! NEW!

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