Whereas farms in British Columbia are facing increasing pressure from rising costs, climate disruptions, workforce shortages, and global market volatilityincluding tariffsmaking it harder to remain viable and threatening the provinces food security and rural economies; And whereas Agricultural Land Commission ALC regulations currently permit food and beverage service lounges for alcohol-producing farms if 50 of the primary product is grown on-site, but farms focused on food production face a more complex, uncertain, and inequitable approval process: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM advocate to the Province for amendments to ALC regulations that would enable local governments to allow food-producing farms to operate restaurant lounges under the following conditions: 1. At least 50 of the food served in the restaurant lounge must be produced on the farm where the restaurant is located; 2. The restaurant lounge must comply with existing size restrictions applicable to food and beverage service lounges for alcohol-producing businesses 125 m indoors and 125 m outdoors; and 3. The UBCM work with the ALC to ensure that these amendments support the sustainability and economic viability of farms while maintaining the integrity of the Agricultural Land Reserve.
Ministry of Agriculture and Food The Provincial government strongly supports farmers including value-added activities on their farms within the Agricultural Land Reserve ALR to help them build and sustain their farming businesses and connect people in BC to the local food and beverages they enjoy. We are always considering ways to increase the business opportunities available to farmers within the ALR, while recognizing that any changes must be balanced, and ensure we continue to protect valuable agricultural land in BC. The ALR Use Regulation that permits alcohol production facilities to operate a food and beverage service lounge originates from the Liquor Control and Licensing Act which requires that food must be made available at establishments that serve alcohol. It is the Ministrys understanding that it is often very difficult for a farm in the ALR to actually produce over 50 percent of the products served in the restaurant on the property where the restaurant is located due in large part to the seasonal nature of agricultural production in BC. The ALC non-farm use application process allows farmers to apply to the ALC for a bistrocaffood service lounge irrespective of what quantity of food grown on the property is proposed to be served in the restaurant.