When BC ferries says one for the road, they mean ONE for the road!

For residents and travellers on the North Coast, Haida Gwaii and Central Coast the news of a pilot program to allow for alcohol sales on board BC Ferries is more along the lines of hold our beer, we've been doing that for years. 

But for the south today's announcement is a significant change for BC Ferries policies.

BC Ferries released details as to how they will go about delivering on the sales of alcohol on some of the vessels that transit their routes in Southern waters, with the program to begin in late October, the first time that BC Ferries has offered alcohol sales on their busiest of routes.

The vessels scheduled for the launch of the service include: The Spirit of British Columbia, The Spirit of Vancouver Island and the Coastal Celebration, the three vessels serve the Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay run between Vancouver and Victoria.

“Many of our customers have said they would like to have a glass of wine or beer with their meal while sailing with us. We look for ways to enhance the customer experience and are pleased to now offer these beverages in the Pacific Buffet.” -- Melanie Lucia, Executive Director of Catering and Terminal Operations. 

Once the program is underway, the sale of select BC brews and wines will be for sale for those taking advantage of the Pacific Buffet experience on board, though patrons will be limited to one alcoholic beverage upon their entry into the dining lounge.

Beer will be in the $6.99 price range for a 12 ounce glass plus tax, while those who prefer wine will be able to purchase one 5 ounce glass for $9.99 plus tax. Those thinking they might want to bring their own, can think again, as the BYOB approach to sailing will not be allowed.

The sale of beer and wine will start at 11 AM each day, with a cutoff time of 30 minutes before docking at your destination and while minors will still be allowed in the Pacific Buffet area, the provincial age limit of 19 years or older will be in effect when it comes to the sales.

As part of their roll out of the program today, BC Ferries noted that the sale of Beer and Wine has long been available on vessels serving the ports of Prince Rupert, Haida Gwaii, Port Hardy and the Central Coast.

The length of the pilot project on the southern routes will be one year beginning this fall, with BC Ferries monitoring it through the year to evaluate how it is working out.

You can review more of the background to the project here.

In their information release today hailing the new Beer and wind plans, BC Ferries stressed that the change in policy on alcohol does not change their ZERO Tolerance policy when it comes to impaired driving.

For more items of interest related to Ferry Travel both in the south and on the North Coast and Haida Gwaii see our archive page here.