A pub in Campbell River must now pay a $1,000 fine after an employee identified two liquor inspectors.
According to a ruling from the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch on October 22, two liquor inspectors arrived at J.J.’s Pub at 11:37 p.m. on May 25 this year and an employee greeted them and asked for their ID.
The inspectors gave the employee their Liquor and Cannabis Inspector ID, where two minutes after being let in, the same employee stopped them, telling them there was a $15 cover charge.
“Liquor inspector 1 advised the employee that, as liquor inspectors, they are not required to pay a cover charge while conducting inspections,” said the ruling.
“The employee looked surprised and held out his hand to prevent the liquor inspectors from entering further into the Pub. The liquor inspectors continued to walk forward into the Pub. The employee started walking beside liquor inspector 1 on her left side and started yelling “liquor inspectors” while pointing at the liquor inspectors.”
The inspectors say while being followed all the way to the bar, the employee shouted “liquor inspectors” three to four times, causing some people to turn their heads to look.
When they saw the manager, one of the inspectors said that liquor inspectors were not to be identified.
“Liquor inspector 2 proceeded to inspect further around the Pub while liquor inspector 1 emphasized to the manager how serious it was that they had been loudly identified and it jeopardized their safety,” said the ruling.
“Liquor inspector 1 said that the manager alluded to the fact that she did not know this. She further testified that both she and the other liquor inspector felt unsafe in performing the inspection. The two liquor inspectors cut short their inspection of the Pub as a result of feeling unsafe.”
For the pub manager, she says when the employee started shouting, she couldn’t hear him at first, adding that it was impossible to hear him when he was coming from the front door because of the music.
Along with saying the employee wasn’t yelling, the manager says that she was aware of the rule of not drawing attention to inspectors, but her employees have to let her know when they arrive.
“She said she has instructed the employee in the past to come up and talk to her personally and that is how employees have conducted themselves in the past,” said the ruling.
“She admitted in cross-examination that she did not call a meeting with staff after the May 25 event, nor did she discuss it with any of them. She said the staff who were there were aware of what happened.”
After getting the evidence from the inspectors and pub, the branch says they accept the evidence of the inspectors, adding the employee’s yelling alerted several people of the inspectors presence and put their safety at risk.
The pub has now been ordered to pay $1,000 to the General Manager of the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch by November 30 this year.
For the full document, click here.
