1. Healthcare

Liquor Control and Licensing Branch
Ministry of Justice
Special Occasion Licence Online Pilot – Frequently Asked Questions
When does the pilot start and finish?
When will SOL online be rolled out provincewide?
Where are the pilot locations?
Who will be able to apply for a licence during the pilot?
How far in advance should applicants submit the application for the online pilot?
How does the new, online application process work?
Do I have to apply online?
What are the benefits of applying online?
If I don't get a paper license today and apply online later, will I have to come back to buy my
liquor?
Does the online license cost more?
What if I am hosting an event that isn't in the City of Vancouver or Burnaby?
What if I'm applying for an event that is in the City of Vancouver or Burnaby, but I'm from out
of town?
What do you mean by 'Vancouver'?
What do I need to get started?
Can I apply online in a BC Liquor Store?
Can I apply at a LCLB office?
Can I apply online using my phone/tablet?
Do I have to show ID?
Where do I find out more information?
When does the pilot start and finish?
The pilot begins on Feb. 2, will be limited to events occurring in Burnaby and Vancouver, and will run for
approximately two months.
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When will SOL online be rolled out provincewide?
Special Occasion Licensing online will be rolled out, provincewide, beginning in early April. It will be
phased in gradually, in separate geographic regions. For a short period, both the paper and online
processes will be available at the same time to help ease the transition.
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February 2, 2015
Liquor Control and Licensing Branch
Ministry of Justice
Where are the pilot locations?
As this is online, anyone who is hosting an event in Burnaby or the City Vancouver who wants to try
applying online can, as long as they understand that this is still operating as a pilot project – which
means we may be continually refining the process along the way. We welcome their feedback, so we
can make this a user-friendly, valuable tool for SOL applicants.
For those applicants who would like more information about this process, the following four stores will
be able to provide further assistance:
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4429 Kingsway, BC Liquor Store, South Burnaby
High Gate Village, BC Signature Liquor Store, Burnaby
Broadway and Maple, BC Liquor Store, Vancouver
Alberni and Bute, BC Signature Liquor Store, Vancouver
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Who will be able to apply for a licence during the pilot?
People hosting private and family parties, non-profit organizations, businesses and festivals hosting
events where alcohol will be served or sold in the City of Vancouver and Burnaby can take part in the
pilot project.
Applicants who want to apply for events in other communities will continue to use the current paper
process until the provincewide rollout is launched, beginning in early April.
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How far in advance should applicants submit the application for the online pilot?
For small family events, the goal is to have low-risk, smaller events approved immediately – but giving a
week of lead time is preferable.
For larger events, there is a checklist of information that is needed before beginning the application
process – and gathering these items will be where you will need to put in your time – for instance, larger
events require a security plan.
Once you have all of the required documents, it will take around 45 minutes to apply online, and then
will need to be reviewed by the local police or RCMP which typically takes up to two weeks.
During the pilot, our hope is that things will run smoothly, but as it is a pilot, it will be good to give your
event a bit of lead time to ensure a successful event.
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How does the new, online application process work?
Customers can visit the online application website and create an individual user account. They are then
guided to the online application forms where they enter the information about their event. After all
information is entered and the applicant verifies that it is correct, the application is submitted.
The application will be either approved automatically or referred to one or more authorities for review.
The applicant can track the progress of the application and is provided with contact information for the
assigned reviewer.
February 2, 2015
Liquor Control and Licensing Branch
Ministry of Justice
Once approved, the applicant will need to pay all licence fees and provincial tax. Payment will be
accepted online using a secure payment processor via credit card.
A licence is issued once tax and fees are paid. The applicant must print and sign the licence document
and post it at the event.
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Do I have to apply online?
No. You can still use the paper process during the pilot period.
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What are the benefits of applying online?
o You will not have to make several trips to City hall or the local police/RCMP.
o You will not have to apply separately for a policy exemption approval or security plan approval
(if applicable).
o You will have access to a copy of your license and can save it until you need it, or reprint it as
required.
o You can see your past history of licenses and have quick access to your records.
o The site contains one-stop access to Serving it Right, the LCLB, BC Liquor Stores and other
helpful information.
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If I don't get a paper license today and apply online later, will I have to come back to buy my liquor?
No. You can buy your liquor at the GLS now, as long as you get a license before you host the event
where liquor is served.
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Does the online license cost more?
No. The cost is the same.
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What if I am hosting an event that isn't in the City of Vancouver or Burnaby?
You will need to complete the application using the paper process.
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What if I'm applying for an event that is in the City of Vancouver or Burnaby, but I'm from out of
town?
You can apply online. If the application needs to be reviewed by authorities it will be sent to them
electronically.
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What do you mean by 'Vancouver'?
The pilot is limited to the City of Vancouver, and not the larger metropolitan area. The City of Vancouver
does not include events on the University Endowment Lands (UBC), North Vancouver or West
Vancouver.
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February 2, 2015
Liquor Control and Licensing Branch
Ministry of Justice
What do I need to get started?
o Internet access.
o An email address to create an account.
o Your personal information (name, address, phone number)
o Event information (date, time, location, number of guests)
o A payment card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Visa Debit)
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Can I apply online in a BC Liquor Store?
Although BC Liquor Stores will not have kiosks, you can apply from your tablet or smartphone as long as
you have a browser and access to the internet – smaller smart phones may not work as well. Other
alternatives include using any computer with an internet browser and web access, including most public
computers at places like libraries and community centres.
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Can I apply at a LCLB office?
No, LCLB offices will not provide online access.
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Can I apply online using my phone/tablet?
Yes. The website is designed primarily for computers; however tablets and some smartphones also work
very well. Smaller phones may not be able to work as well.
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Do I have to show ID?
No. But you will need to create an account and must be 19 years of age or older to hold a licence. You
will be required to show ID when you purchase liquor for your event.
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Where do I find out more information?
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For technical questions or general policy/procedure questions for applicants or members of the
general public - SOLO Help line @ 1 855 999 SOLO (7656).
To learn more about any policy changes, and questions regarding exemptions/policy issues
under the current paper process - LCLB main line @ 1 866 209 2111
Or go online to https://solo.bcldb.com or via the LCLB website at www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/lclb (or
do a web-search for 'LCLB').
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February 2, 2015