Are you dreaming of sipping a refreshing brew outside of the Vancouver Art Gallery with your pals?
Starting today, you can enjoy an alcoholic beverage in the sunshine at four Vancouver plazas.
In a release, the City states that people can bring and consume alcohol at the four locations as part of a temporary pilot program approved by Council.
Alcohol consumption is allowed during specific hours at the following sites:
- šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl'e7énk Square - Vancouver Art Gallery, North Plaza (12 – 9 p.m.)
- Lot 19 - Hornby and W. Hastings (11 a.m. – 9 p.m.)
- Bute-Robson Plaza, South Plaza (11 a.m. – 9 p.m.)
- 17th & Cambie Temporary Plaza (11 a.m. – 9 p.m.)
The goal of the pilot program is to allow people to drink alcohol outside, where physical distancing is easier. This initiative also supports equity for people without access to private outdoor spaces.
"This pilot program is a responsible way to allow people to safely physically distance while enjoying a drink outside in our city," said Mayor Kennedy Stewart. "Not everyone has access to their own private outdoor space, and I hope this change signals the beginning of a more vibrant approach to how residents can enjoy themselves outdoors."
It’s the latest measure in the City’s ongoing response to the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on our residents and businesses.
The pilot is being managed and monitored in partnership with local Business improvement Associations (BIAs). The four sites were selected following an invitation to BIAs to submit proposals for suitable sites based on criteria staff established in consultation with the VPD and VCH.
Each site is highly visible and in a high-traffic area, and offers access to food and transit, all of which promotes safety. In partnership with BIAs, the locations will be monitored regularly, so staff can make changes quickly if needed. City staff are working closely with VPD and pilot partners to identify, mitigate, and plan for risks associated with this work.
The pilot was approved by Vancouver City Council on July 29 and will run until mid-October, 2020. People can share their feedback on the pilot by taking a short survey HERE.
