Patio hours extension will give industry a hand up, manager says

The extension of patio hours announced Monday by the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission will help the hospitality industry during the economic downturn, an Edmonton restaurantmanager says.

Grant Sanderson, general manager of MKT Fresh Food and Beer Market, just off Whyte Avenue, was surprised by the change, but said being able to serve patio customers anothertwo hours will make a big difference.

• AGLC eliminates restrictions on patio liquor hours

"We've seen a lot of barriers lately with tax increases, and minimum wage increases and things like that," Sanderson said.

"So any opportunity for us to increase revenue and make our business more viable, we'll welcome."

Under the old rules, patios had to stop serving drinks at midnight. Patrons were allowed another hour to finish their drinks before having to move inside. .

AGLC spokeswoman Michelle Hynes-Dawson said the policy had been in effect for the last 20 years and was due for a change.

"The difference here is that now patios are being considered an extension of the licensed premise, so their hours are the same now as the actual bar," she said.

Hynes-Dawson saidthe old policy was introduced to control noise from musicand live entertainment. But municipalities, bar owners and other stakeholders told the AGLC that noise complaints are dealt with at the municipal level.

Municipalities without noise bylaws can ask the AGLC to impose conditions on a liquor licence restricting patio hours.

The changes could have an impact on beer gardens at events like Taste of Edmonton, and the Edmonton International Fringe Festival which starts Thursday.

Fringe operations director Adam Mitchell said the changes were announced too close to this year's kickoff so the beer gardens on the festival grounds will continue closing at midnight.

As for MKT, Sanderson said the bar will keep serving drinks past midnight while respecting their neighbours, including residents of a large apartment complex next door.

""I think first and foremost, being a good neighbour. Doing your due diligence to customers to ensure they're leaving safely, providing means of transportation," he said. "There's a lot of factors besides getting to serve for two extra hours."