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Fans of Canada's national rugby team won't be allowed to sip beer in a pub for the first World Cup match against Ireland.

That upsets Dan Tanner, organizer of Ninety Nine Social, who was hoping that his group could gather for brewskis in the Pint Public House & Sports Bar for the early-morning game on September 19.

The tournament takes place in England, which is eight hours ahead of the Vancouver time zone.

In a phone interview with the Straight, Tanner said that Alberta liquor authorities have granted a licence for people to drink beer at 7:30 a.m. during the Rugby World Cup.

In B.C., liquor regulations prohibit serving beer before 9 a.m.

"I'm seeking this as a thing for immigrant sport fans to be able to have the same cultural and sport experience as hockey fans and CFL fans have," Tanner said.

The former minister responsible for liquor reforms, Suzanne Anton, said in the legislature earlier this year that people can gather in pubs early in the morning, but they can't drink until 9 a.m.

Tanner wants the government to permit special-occasion licences for early-morning sports events in other countries if pubs can demonstrate that they run safe operations and have sufficient security in place.

"I work my ass off 80 hours a week and I'm told, 'No, you can't have a drink until 9 a.m. because you're a potential drunk driver or criminal'," Tanner said. "I never take my car to the games."

The British immigrant emphasized that he doesn't have a criminal record.

Earlier this year, NDP liquor-policy critic David Eby twice raised this issue in the legislature, even reading out a letter from Tanner.

Eby asked Anton if it were possible to authorize "special cultural events licences that would permit serving" alcohol if it's for an event in a different time zone. The NDP MLA said that he wasn't suggesting that hours be increased across the board.

The second time he mentioned this, Anton responded that it would be a "major undertaking" to review the regulation.

She claimed that this would involve consultations with local governments and those who pay attention to health and safety issues.

Since then, the premier has transferred responsibility for liquor licensing to Coralee Oakes, who represents Cariboo North in the legislature.

Tanner said that his inquires to Oakes have gone unanswered.