BC Ferries expands alcohol sales on busiest route
Thirsty travellers aboard BC Ferries vessels between Victoria and Vancouver can now purchase alcoholic drinks from the Coastal Café.
The company began selling alcoholic beverages on board sailings between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen on Nov. 9.
The addition of alcoholic drinks to the Coastal Café menu is the culmination of years of planning and pilot programs.
BC Ferries first launched a pilot program offering alcoholic beverages through at its Pacific Buffet in late 2019.
Now, ferry travellers aged 19 or older can purchase up to two drinks maximum from the Coastal Café, so long as they also purchase a meal.
The drinks options include 355 millilitres of beer, cider, or a "refreshment beverage," as well as a 250-millilitre glass of wine.
Customers can't take their alcoholic drinks out of the Coastal Café area, and children are still allowed to sit in the cafeteria area, just as they would at a typical restaurant.
Alcoholic beverages are only served on sailings between 11 a.m. and 11:30 p.m., according to BC Ferries, and they stop being sold within 30 minutes of docking.
While alcoholic drinks are only available between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen, BC Ferries says it plans to expand the sale of alcohol to sailings between Tsawwassen and Duke Point – and between Departure Bay and Horseshoe Bay – in the "coming months."
"We've heard from many passengers that they would like to enjoy an alcoholic beverage with their meal while on board," reads the BC Ferries website.
"Following the successful introduction of beer and wine in the Pacific Buffet, we are adding alcoholic beverages to the menu in select Coastal Cafes as a way to improve the customer experience."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.