Food-Primary Licence (Restaurants)
The Liquor Control and Licensing Branch issues food-primary licences to businesses (restaurants) where the service of food, as opposed to liquor, is the primary focus of the business.
Licensed restaurants may serve any kind of liquor. However, a full range of appetizers and main courses must be available and being served, whenever liquor is available. (Restaurants with 50 or more seats only may apply to have a small, separate lounge area where they can serve liquor without food.)
Restaurants may remain open 24-hours-a-day, but may serve liquor between 9:00 am and 4:00 am only (late-night hours, after midnight, require Liquor Control and Licensing Branch and local government approval). Minors are allowed in all food-primary establishments.
Businesses not eligible for a food-primary licence include:
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restaurants in mall food fairs
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restaurants that do mostly take-out service
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stand-alone banquet rooms without fully equipped kitchens, and
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mobile food providers, such as hot-dog vendors.
Steps to take to get a food-primary licence?
