Wine buffs recently rejoiced at the announcement of new liquor laws allowing restaurant patrons to bring their own bottle of wine to BC restaurants. Depending on how pricey the wine you usually select is, this could save you a few bucks.
Restaurants set their own corkage fees, and so far, we haven’t heard much from anyone except Hapa Izakaya.
Hapa just announced that they’ll participate in BYOW (Bring Your Own Wine). Guests are invited to bring along their favourite bottles of wine for a corkage fee of $20.00 per bottle. Parties with up to four guests can bring in one bottle of wine and parties with five guests or more can bring in two. All you have to do is present your bottle to a manager upon arrival.
The average corkage fee across Canada is around $10-$15 a bottle. Six other Canadian provinces, including Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, already allow BYOW.
Hapa Izakaya, 1516 Yew St, 604-738-4272, Hapaizakaya.com
Last modified: August 2, 2012
I love how all the articles mention 10-15 dollars as a reasonable/average price for a corkage fee and Hapa goes for 20 bucks…I guarantee that all of Vancouver will be well above the norm (ie: 20+ dollars). This city is so overpriced it’s ridiculous. During my stay in Quebec I brought both wine AND beer into restaurants and the only question I got was: would you like a glass for that?
This charging a fee for BYOW is Keeerappp!!! I can only afford 10-20 dollar bottle of wine, so still won’t be drinking if I go out.
This is not going to increase the appetite for eating out.
I grew up in Montreal, where exploring new restaurants is a religion. There is No Charge for BYOW.
C’Mon Vancouver, Get with the Spirit of BYOW!!!
I’m so confused! 8|
Charging for BYOW? I don’t understand – it’s free in Montréal.
I can only speculate that the restaurant’s embracing BYOW here in Vancouver have only done so to attract some press and accommodate rich customers who want to bring a bottle from their favorite vineyard. I’ve been presuming BYOW was about helping slash prices for restaurant goers, but perhaps this is a “slash” too great for restaurant owners to afford in this city, or without broader adaptation by the food industry of Vancouver.