While patio season may be short in Alberta, it brings in a lot of business for many restaurants and now it's even easier for licensed venues to offer up the kind of patio experience the customers want.

Alberta Minister of Finance Joe Ceci announced a new policy on Sunday at the Calgary Stampede that will allow licensed restaurants and bars to have more control over the size and design of their patios.

"This policy makes life better for businesses and patrons alike by allowing for types of patios that recognize the unique character of the building, neighbourhood, and customers".

This new policy will also affect how businesses choose to define their outdoor space.

Venues were previously required to build a three-foot-high enclosure to operate their patio, but now may define this space using things such as planters or furniture.

These changes add to the government's work to modernize liquor regulations, to better support the industry from grain to glass.

 

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