Restaurants Canada has issued a strong statement warning that British Columbia’s foodservice sector is approaching a crisis point as the provincial liquor strike stretches into a sixth week. The association is urging the B.C. government and the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) to reach an agreement without delay or, failing that, to permit licensed restaurants and bars to temporarily purchase alcohol from private liquor stores so they can continue serving customers.
The strike has cut off a critical part of the supply chain for hospitality operators. With government-run liquor and cannabis outlets behind picket lines and limited purchase allowances at select open locations, many businesses report rapidly dwindling inventories and disrupted service.
Alcohol sales are a key margin driver for many restaurants and bars. Restaurants Canada notes that 41 percent of operators are currently operating at a loss or just breaking even, leaving little room to absorb further shocks. The association warns that restricting access to alcohol for licensed establishments, while retail consumers can still purchase for home use, risks tipping some small businesses into closure.
The stakes extend well beyond individual venues. The foodservice sector in British Columbia employs approximately 183,000 people, many of them youth and early-career workers. Prolonged disruption, the association says, threatens jobs and the broader hospitality ecosystem, from restaurants and pubs to caterers, hotels and event venues.
Mark von Schellwitz, Vice-President for Western Canada at Restaurants Canada, stated: “We need to see the BC government and the BCGEU reach a mutual agreement, but foodservice businesses can’t continue bearing the burden of this strike. If the BC government can’t find a solution to allow foodservice businesses to purchase alcohol, either from BC Liquor or from private liquor stores, it needs to consider back to work legislation.”
This reflects the association’s immediate priorities: a negotiated settlement, near-term access to product to keep businesses open, and, as a last resort, legislative intervention.
How We Got Here
The strike began in early September after talks between the province and the BCGEU broke down over wages and cost-of-living adjustments. Initial actions were limited, but by October 8 all government-run liquor and cannabis outlets were closed. The union has called for a general wage increase of four percent per year for two years, while the province has cited fiscal constraints and a significant deficit as the reason for maintaining its offer of two percent per year.
The ramifications have spread across the public service and into private-sector supply chains that depend on government distribution. For operators, the only remaining channel involves visiting open BC Liquor stores and observing a strict cap of three items per SKU per day — an approach that owners say is unworkable as picket lines rotate and inventory disappears.
Operators report spending hours driving to multiple outlets and returning with insufficient stock to manage peak periods. Menus have been revised to remove popular items and, in some cases, hours have been reduced to ration remaining supply. Restaurants Canada says these short-term coping tactics are not sustainable for businesses already facing higher costs, tight labour markets, and softer demand.
Proposed Relief Measures
Restaurants Canada is asking the province to implement a temporary workaround that permits restaurants, bars and hotels to purchase through private retail channels until a settlement is reached. The association argues that such a measure would preserve jobs and prevent avoidable closures while respecting the collective bargaining process.
Beyond near-term revenue, the concern is reputational and structural. British Columbia’s hospitality sector is a draw for residents and visitors alike. Continued product shortages and venue closures risk undermining consumer confidence and the province’s standing as a leading food and beverage destination.
Restaurants Canada is reiterating its call for the parties to return to the table quickly. The association maintains that immediate access to product is essential to keep doors open while negotiations continue. With inventories tightening each day, operators say the timeline for relief is short.
