Vancouver Island pub fined after employee alerts patrons to liquor inspectors

The Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) has fined a Vancouver Island pub $1,000 after an employee shouted “liquor inspectors” and pointed at them upon entry.

The incident, which occurred just before midnight at J. J.’s Pub on May 25th, prompted the pub to choose a fine over a one-day suspension of its liquor licence.

The issue arose when two liquor inspectors arrived at the pub just after 11:30 p.m. and provided their identification to an employee stationed at the door.

Although initially asked to pay a $15 cover charge, the inspectors clarified that their role as liquor inspectors exempted them from the fee.

Upon learning this, the employee reportedly prevented them from further entering, then accompanied them inside while loudly announcing “liquor inspectors” and gesturing towards them.

The LCRB report notes that patrons turned to observe the inspectors as they walked further into the pub, with one of the inspectors reporting that they felt unsafe due to the attention drawn to them.

The LCRB terms and conditions manual, which guides licensed establishments, outlines clear protocols for interacting with inspectors.

It specifically prohibits actions that may call attention to the presence of liquor inspectors or any enforcement agents within a venue.

The guideline emphasizes that “drawing the attention of patrons to the fact that inspectors…are present in your establishment may put the safety of the inspectors…at risk.”

Following the incident, the pub’s manager denied that the employee had shouted or used any inappropriate language, although he acknowledged he may not have heard any shouting from his location closer to the bar.

He described the employee, a six-year veteran of the establishment, as “kind and unlikely to use swear words,” read the report.

The manager also noted that, although there is a Terms and Conditions handbook by the till and previous training had been provided, no additional training was given after the incident to reinforce protocols on identifying liquor inspectors.

Under LCRB guidelines, fines for similar infractions range from $1,000 to $3,000 or a suspension of one to three days. J. J.’s Pub elected to pay the minimum fine rather than undergo a one-day suspension, which would have halted business for the day.