Both the City of Vernon and the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce (GVCC) are putting pressure on the provincial government for a policy change.

Following the province's decision to temporarily remove U.S. spirits from B.C. liquor stores, local distilleries have seen a boost in sales, but there is a cap on the amount produced. 

Currently, B.C. craft distilleries must produce no more than 50,000 litres of spirits annually, and use 100 per cent B.C. grown agricultural inputs to qualify for the craft designation. Exceeding the cap results in "substantial" financial penalties, which discourages expansion and innovation, according the GVCC.

The GVCC wants to change this cap by eliminating it to allow distilleries to meet the growing market demands without facing punitive markups.

鈥淲e have the capacity, the expertise, and the passion to fill BC Liquor Store shelves with premium, homegrown spirits,鈥� said Tyler Dyck, CEO of Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery. 鈥淏ritish Columbians want the option to buy local, and by modernizing these outdated policies, we can not only provide them with a quality product but also drive economic growth and job creation right here in our province."

Additionally, the chamber is calling on the provincial government to expand access to liquor stores by implementing policies that prioritize and promote B.C. craft spirits in government liquor stores. The change would give B.C. distillers the same reimbursement they give to wineries and have all government liquor stores feature a 100 per cent Craft B.C. Spirits section.

Dyck has also started a , to demand changes "that will finally see BC鈥檚 craft distilleries treated with the same respect as B.C. wineries."

鈥淭his is low-hanging fruit,鈥� said Dan Proulx, general manager of the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce. 鈥淲hile we are focused on cross-border and interprovincial trade barriers, we have the most control over our own regulations that are holding back homegrown producers. If we want to support local, we need to start by removing these unnecessary roadblocks.鈥�

At the Monday, April 14 council meeting, Coun. Kari Gares asked council to support a motion to agree with what the chamber has requested

"We can't produce enough to buy local," said Gares. "I am asking council to support a motion agreeing with what the chamber requested and provide that level of support." 

Coun. Brian Guy added that "the craft distilleries here produce a very high-quality product and it is worth buying."