B.C. liquor laws to allow 24-hour service in hotels

Another in a string of amendments to the province's liquor laws was announced today and it came with a surprisingly convivial headline.

"Any time is a good time for a cocktail in your hotel room," Friday's B.C. government news release, from the Ministry of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction, stated.

The news that hotels may now deliver alcohol as part of 24 hour room service will create "flexibility for people with overnight accommodations, will help increase customer service for their guests," MLA John Yap said in Richmond, a bottle of Champagne chilling, and a tray of chocolate-dipped strawberries by his side.

But not everyone welcomed this development asenthusiastically.

NDP MLA David Eby says the government should focus liquor changes on policies that have a wider impact.

"We get these press events on a minor amendment that now allow people to order a beer at three in the morning," he told CBC News.

"It seems like a small group. Why not deal with craft breweries that are now grappling with higher prices because of a government screw up?"The smaller breweries are chafing over an increase in the retail price for their products as part of the government's imposition ofa new wholesale pricing model last April.

The room service change is the 39th liquor-related policy recommendation the government has now put in place.