Vernon’s private liquor stores want assurances that grocery stores follow the same rules.
The Alliance of Beverage Licensees asked city council Monday to only support grocery stores selling liquor if they are one kilometre away from another liquor retail outlet.
“It becomes a fundamental shift in the market,” said Jeff Guignard, Alliance of Beverage Licensees executive director, of grocery chain stores selling wine.
Under provincial legislation, grocery stores are not subject to the one-kilometre distance rule like liquor stores (some may be closer because their locations were in place before the rules).
“This will help restrict liquor licenses for wine in grocery stores, protect small businesses and the people they employ, and provide necessary industry stabilization,” states the alliance in a letter.
Private liquor stores in Vernon have 165 staff and an annual payroll of $6 million.
Council has yet to make a decision on the request, but Coun. Dalvir Nahal supports a one-kilometre distance for grocery stores selling wine.
“We have jobs to think about,” she said of the private stores.
“Healthy competition is OK but if we lose jobs, it’s not fair.”