There is a rising concern about how bars and restaurants will handle customers consuming both liquor and legal cannabis.
BC’s Alliance of Beverage Licensees (ABLE BC) is in Prince George to talk with private sector owners and help educate them on how to approach marijuana legalization slated for October.
Executive Director Jeff Guignard says bar owners may have to make a shift to their house policies to accommodate the coming change.
“I’m in couraging our members to say you’re not allowed to consume cannabis on site. You are not allowed to go outside even though we have a smoking section you can’t consume cannabis in that section. Just do everything they can to make sure they aren’t having it happen.”
Mixing the two substance isn’t an uncommon practice, but having too much in your system can result in going pale, feeling dizzy, nauseous and vomiting. This has been labeled “greening out”.
This also leads to higher intoxication levels putting liability in the hands of owners.
“That is a concern once cannabis is legal, are we going to be paying the same kind of liability thresholds. The reason we are concerned is because the federal government has very stringent regulations around this and are exercising their criminal law power,” added Guignard.
If a minor is served liquor the government can charge $7,500, if a business serves cannabis to someone under age they could be sentenced to 14 years in jail.
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