VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Extending patio hours in Vancouver is one thing, but the head of BC’s food industry group feels the province’s liquor laws should be revised first.

We told you this week about how Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson wants to have restaurant patios stay open past 11 p.m. But the BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association says real change must happen at the provincial level.

“Restaurants are the only reseller of alcohol that do not get a discount when they purchase the alcohol, so they purchase it at the same prices that you and I do, so that tends to keep the prices on a restaurant menu a little bit higher,” says President and CEO Ian Tostenson.

He would also like to see private liquor stores be allowed to sell to restaurants.

“We think that if we could find a way to allow them to sell, you’re going to see a lot more creativity and innovation on wine lists throughout the city because the private retailers do carry stuff in their system that isn’t carried by government.”

Last month, the provincial government announced one of the first tasks facing new Attorney General Suzanne Anton is a review of BC’s liquor laws.