Licensing Regulations for restaurants and bars in Sylvan Lake are likely to see some changes ahead of the summer patio season.
 
A Business Review Panel, comprised of a number of local business owners, Town staff and the RCMP has taken a closer look at liquor service regulations and live entertainment on patios after the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission announced it would no longer be regulating those areas.

As Communications Officer Joanne Gaudet explains, the AGLC changes allowed patio operations to assume the same hours as indoor establishments, which is one area the panel would like to see set hours considered “drinking establishments currently can operate anywhere until about 2-3 am, working with this panel we kind of came to some agreements or some identified times at which they could serve and consume alcohol on the outdoor patios”.

The recommendation is for liquor service permitted until 12 am with consumption to 1 am.

The panel has also recognized there needs to be regulations around live entertainment on patios according to Gaudet “regulating the noise level of course and how long those live performances on the patios go for and during what months and what days of the week”.

They’ve suggested having patio entertainment in the summer permitted Thursday through Sunday and holiday Monday's between 9 am and 11 pm and in the off season between October and May until 9 pm those same days.

Another area the panel would like to see some changes in are the licensing fees as currently there are different fee costs for licensed restaurants compared to drinking establishments.

Town Administration will prepare draft bylaws based on the panel’s recommendations which will come back to Council for consideration, with the hope of having updated bylaws in place ahead of the busy summer patio season.