Jan 2 - New rules on plastic bags & take-out

Good morning !

It’s only the second day of January, so most people who make resolutions are still sticking to them. How much longer that lasts will vary from person to person, of course.

But when it comes to the common resolution of drinking less, some local researchers say that it’s one change you should stick with. More on that below, plus a look at new rules for take-out.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌧️ 9 / 7

Tomorrow: 🌧️ 9 / 6

Thursday:🌧️ 9 / 5

7-day forecast

NEWS

New rules on plastic bags & disposable take-out items

If you recently ordered takeout, you might’ve noticed a lack of cutlery (or of the little green “grass” sheets that separate wasabi from sushi). That isn’t a mistake.

The province has a resolution for restaurants this year: Be less wasteful.

As of Dec. 20, new BC-wide regulations will require take-away customers to specifically request any single-use and/or plastic items such as utensils, napkins, and coffee lids. 

Items available by request include:

• Condiments

• Cup lids & sleeves

• Napkins & wet wipes

• Garnishes (mini umbrellas, or that sushi grass), 

There are a few exceptions such as single-use wooden utensils in care facilities, drink lids at drive-thrus, and bendy plastic straws for people with accessibility needs.

Limitations to shopping bags are also in effect as of Dec. 20—Canada is phasing out all single-use plastic shopping bags, but BC will wait until July to phase in Canada’s plan for all businesses to charge a fee for new reusable and paper bags. 

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Most municipal halls & services reopen after holiday closure.

FortisBC’s Jan. 1 electricity rate hike of 6.74% will increase the average residential customer’s bill by around $11. [Info]

New changes to CPP deductions, as of Jan. 1. [Yahoo / CP]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Local researchers point to dangers of drinking

One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to cut down on drinking. It’s a lifestyle change that has gained some extra momentum over the past year following the Jan. 2023 release of new guidelines around how much Canadians should drink. 

Any more than 2 standard drinks per week has at least some health risk, per the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) report. The CCSA received public funding to look into updating Health Canada’s drinking guidelines, which debuted 12 years ago.

Those guidelines put the threshold for risk at 3 drinks per day or 15 per week for men and 2 per day or 10 per week for women. The CCSA report proposes, instead, a spectrum of low (2/week), moderate, (3-6/week), and higher (>6) drinking risk—but acknowledges that most Canadians over 15 are already above that low-risk range.

Public underestimates health concerns, researcher says

Researcher Tim Stockwell, founding director of the UVic-based Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, argues that the public underestimates risks from alcohol, particularly cancer risk. He told Capital Daily that one drink is comparable to one cigarette. 

Last year the also-UVic-based Canadian Alcohol Policy Evaluation (CAPE) Project concluded that BC and other provinces are doing a poor job of conveying these risks—including cancer—to the public.

Local non-alcoholic drinks gaining popularity

With more people now eschewing alcohol, non-alcoholic craft drinks of all kinds have also proliferated, including local offerings such as Lumette pseudo-spirits from Sheringham distillery and iOTA craft beers from Phillips.

Last summer Tasting Victoria talked to Victoria musician Aidan Knight—who spent the summer biking around a beverage stand selling craft non-alcoholic drinks—about the recent evolution of such beverages.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🚪 How much is your home worth? New BC Assessment values are now out, with more info coming later this week.

✨ Catch the last ones before they’re all gone: Our overview of local holiday lights and where to find them.

🤿 The “fireworks” of the sea: Colourful feather duster worms seen underwater on a Pender Island dock. [Photo]

💦 Don’t be afraid to jump in! Explore deeper career perspectives with Continuing Studies at UVic. Adapt to a quickly changing job market with short micro-credentials.*

🤝 Now hiring: Hospitality Territory Sales Manager at Ecolab.

*Sponsored listing

🗞️ In Other News

 Island’s first 2023 baby is a Victoria boy named Gus
The Vic General birth came at 2:06am, while BC’s first baby was right at midnight in New Westminster. 

Victoria movers not in wrong for missing ferry, civil court finds
Micro Logistics Group Inc. got a woman’s things to Vancouver after her storage facility was closed. She sued, but the tribunal concluded the delay was mostly due to her not telling movers how much stuff she had. Their text threatening to dump her items, though, was ruled inappropriate. [Victoria News]

🗓️ Things to do

 🧱 LEGO exhibit opens again at Sidney Museum, headlined by a Lord of the Rings set. [Info]

🦇 Goth Nite II: On Jan. 6, the VEC’s “Return of the Bats” will feature three DJs playing goth rock, darkwave, post-punk, industrial, and more. Sat., 8pm-2am.

✍️ Write letters by hand at the RBCM’s letter writing station on the third floor mezzanine, which provides paper, pens, envelopes, and stamps. Jan.2-7, 11am-3pm.

📖 Story Time sessions for ages 0-5 continue on Tuesdays at Esquimalt Neighbourhood House. 10:15-11am.

👀 In Case You Missed It

 7.6 quake hit Japan on Monday, causing destruction, disruption, waves, and several deaths. No effect on North American west coast expected.

You can watch the local winter waves, if braving them yourself is too intimidating, in this relaxing shoreline video.

2023’s most popular baby name in BC was again Noah, followed by Olivia and Oliver. [BC Gov stats]

Missing teen Lia last seen Dec 18. [Photo / Info]

That’s it!

If you found something useful, consider forwarding this newsletter to a fellow Victorian.

And before you go, let us know: