CAQ proposes making all restaurants BYOB

The Coalition Avenir Qubec says allowing all restaurants to become BYOB bring your own bottle could breathe new life into the industry.

Right now, restaurants wanting to sell alcohol have to choose between two permits: one allows themto sell alcohol on site, while the otherlets customers bring their own bottles of wine or beer.

Franois Bonnardel, the CAQ's finance critic, saysthe province should simplify their permits. He wants to see one flexible permit which allowsboth sales on site and forcustomers to BYOB.

He says the change will benefit both consumers and restaurants.

"The reality is Quebecers have less money in their pockets, sothey go to restaurants less often," said Bonnardel.

"By reducing the cost of their restaurant bills, we will give them a reason to go out more often."

• SAQ boosts wine prices across Quebec

Good for chains, bad for small restos?

The CAQ says the idea has been backed by rotisserie chicken giant St-Hubert and the restaurant chain Normandin.

But not all restaurateurs are sold on the idea. Victor Afonso owns Tapeo and Restaurant Mesn in Villeray. He says that profitmargins are too small already and the decrease in alcohol sales would be hard to swallow.

"It's not a question of being greedy, it's a question of survival,"saidAfonso.

"I don't think this would benefit any small restaurant."

For restaurants already operating as BYOBs the change could bring in new sales.

Linda Girolamo is the vice president of Pizzeria Napoletana in Montreal's Little Italy. Her family has owned the business for almost40 years and it has always been BYOB.

"It's the best of both worlds," said Girolamo. "People can bring their favourite wine and if they forget, we can sell them what we have."

Girolamo says regular restaurants could create an "uncorking fee" for customers who choose to bring their own alcohol. She says that would help make up for any lossin alcohol sales.

• Halal Guys opens new restaurant in Montreal