Okanagan brewery issued $7K fine for first liquor licence breach in 10 years

An Okanagan brewery was fined thousands of dollars earlier this month after serving alcohol to a 17-year-old employed through the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation BRanch’s Minor as Agents Program.

According to a decision from the LCRB that was posted online earlier this month, liquor inspectors attended Silver Star Brewing in Vernon on Dec. 4, 2024.

The minor agent entered the brewery, entered the bar area and served a beer without being asked for ID.

The brewery owner was issued a contravention notice by email the next day.

According to the decision, the brewery owner argued that this was the first contravention in its 10-year history.

“He stated that the Licensee has a very strict policy of requiring all of its staff, whether a greeter, server or bartender to ensure that identification is asked from anyone appearing to be a minor,” the decision stated.

The owner submitted evidence to the LCRB that the bartender who served the minor agent was a trainee who had only been employed for two months and was fired immediately after the incident.

The licensee also said the contravention served a clear warning” that there was a gap in its staff training, and it has taken the necessary steps to ensure that such a mistake does not happen again.

In the decision, the brewery owner said he and other employees had done their due diligence and asked not to be fined.

According to the decision, the licensee also claimed the bartender must have been distracted when he made the mistake.

However, the adult liquor inspectors that were also in the brewery at the time of the contravention said the bartender had a conversation with the minor agent and another patron.

“This evidence certainly does not suggest “distraction” on the part of the Bartender causing him to make a mistake, but rather a clear interaction between the Bartender and Minor Agent,” the LCRB noted.

The LCRB said the evidence submitted backed the brewery owner’s claim of due diligence, however, several areas where the licensee failed to meet standards. That includes an actual document setting out policies and procedures on which all staff are trained.

The LCRB said there were inconsistencies in the licensee’s age policy as to whether it was 19, 25 or 30 (to ask for ID) and “an apparent lack of training for staff to assist them in making an assessment on age and how to approach a patron to ask for identification.”

The brewery ultimately opted for a $7,000 fine instead of a closure of up to seven days.