Mark Hicken is the Executive Director of the Canadian Alliance for Responsible Drinking. Mark was previously a well-known wine and liquor industry lawyer (now retired from law practice). He has worked in this area for over 15 years and has a wealth of experience with liquor policy issues. In late 2017, Mark was appointed as the BC Government’s Liquor Policy Advisor. In that capacity, Mark chaired the Business Technical Advisory Panel (Liquor Policy) which was tasked with making recommendations to improve BC’s liquor policy and regulations. The Panel presented a report to the government in the spring of 2018 which contains 24 recommendations for policy changes (affectionately now known as the “Hicken Report”).
Mark is a frequent speaker at wine industry conferences (including international ones) and is a Director of the International Wine Law Association (AIDV/IWLA). He is often quoted in the media on issues related to wine/liquor law including in the Globe & Mail, National Post, Vancouver Sun, Toronto Star, BC Business, Business in Vancouver, CBC radio, CBC television, Global television, the Economist, Wine Business Monthly and Wine Spectator.