A Vancouver Island restaurant has been fined $7,000 for serving liquor to a minor.
On February 2nd of this year, a series of inspections were conducted in the Campbell River area, and one of the establishments they visited was Socal Restaurant & Lounge, located at 1 – 2231 South Island Highway.
The inspection at this particular restaurant was conducted around 3:30 p.m., when one of the inspectors went inside and was seated by a server.
Shortly after, a minor employed under the Minors as Agents Program (MAP), went into the restaurant and was seated behind the inspector.
The minor ordered a Corona beer and the server returned shortly after taking the order and placed it in front of the minor. Shortly after, the minor agent left the premises.
After the minor’s departure, the inspector remained in the restaurant and informed the manager that liquor had just been served to a minor.
According to the report, a first offense of this nature can result in a $7,000 to $11,000 fine, or a seven to 11-day license suspension.
The licensee at Socal Restaurant & Lounge didn’t dispute the incident, but sought that the establishment otherwise acts with due diligence.
A hearing was held on April 14th, in which the licensee came forward and spoke about the measures in place to ensure minors aren’t served.
However, it was ruled that certain aspects of the licensee’s argument for due diligence were unsatisfactory.
The final decision was a monetary penalty of $7,000.
The establishments chosen for inspection are chosen at random, and of the six to seven facilities that were inspected that day, two others also failed to ask the minor agent for ID.
