Starting in October, B.C. Ferries passengers travelling between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen will be able to enjoy a beer or glass of wine with their Pacific Buffet meal.
B.C. Ferries has decided to go ahead with a one-year trial that will see beer and wine added to the Pacific Buffet menu on vessels serving the Vancouver-to-Victoria route — Spirit of Vancouver Island, Spirit of British Columbia and Coastal Celebration.
“We heard from a number of our customers that they would like to enjoy a glass of wine or glass of beer while sailing with us, and so in response to that customer feedback, we are introducing this one-year pilot starting in late October,” said B.C. Ferries spokeswoman Astrid Braunschmidt.
When the idea of offering beer and wine was floated earlier this year, concerns were raised that it would promote drinking and driving, and change the atmosphere of the Pacific Buffet.
But Braunschmidt said B.C. Ferries opted to go ahead after consulting with stakeholders.
“We are in many ways like other restaurants,” she said. “We have a restaurant atmosphere on these three vessels in the Pacific Buffet and we have heard from customers they would like to have a glass of wine or beer if they choose.”
During the trial, alcohol can only be purchased in the buffet by customers who are 19 or older. Beer or wine can only be purchased with a meal, and there is a limit of one per customer as a condition of the licence granted to B.C. Ferries by the liquor and cannabis regulation branch.
“We are always looking at ways of enhancing the customer experience and we believe this pilot will certainly do that,” Braunschmidt said.
B.C. Ferries expects the addition of alcohol sales could mean a $500,000 boost to its bottom line.
At this point, B.C. Ferries has not finalized its beer and wine list, but Braunschmidt said they will offer B.C. craft beer and B.C. VQA wines.
The trial will be evaluated next year and take into account feedback from employees and customers to determine if the service was worthwhile, and if it should be expanded or changed.
“We are open to options,” she said.
The trial will start with an 11 a.m. sailing in late October, though no date has been set.
While it will be the first time for alcohol to be served on the route between Victoria and Vancouver, it won’t be the first time beer and wine have flowed on one of B.C. Ferries’ vessels.
B.C. Ferries already offers beer and wine for sale on northern routes sailing to and from Port Hardy, Prince Rupert, Haida Gwaii and ports on the central coast.
