Kamloops liquor store fined $9K in underage sting operation
A Kamloops liquor store has been fined $9,000 for serving an 18-year-old during a liquor inspector sting operation.
According to an April 11 B.C. Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch decision, the McCracken Station Liquor Store served an underage teen who was undercover with the liquor inspector.
The decision says an unnamed clerk sold the 18-year-old a six-pack of raspberry flavour alcoholic iced tea in November last year.
The Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch hires 16 to 18-year-olds to attempt to buy or buy liquor from stores as part of an initiative from the liquor inspector.
The decision says that prior to the teen entering the store, a liquor inspector entered the premises to do a "risk assessment."
"He observed a female staff member standing at the cashier area with long dark hair, long-sleeved light blue shirt, and jeans," the decision says.
The teen then went in and bought the alcoholic iced tea.
"At no point did the store clerk ask the minor agent her age or for identification," the decision says.
The liquor store was then issued a Notice of Enforcement Action.
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In the decision, one of the liquor store owners, Paul Vinepal, didn't deny what took place but argued the company had done its due diligence.
"He referred to the tight labour market, and the fact that they have to hire whoever comes in, give them a brief interview and put them on training. He stated that they did what they could to stay afloat," the decision reads.
The decision says the clerk who served the teen had only been working there for a couple of weeks and coincidentally obtained her Serving it Right certificate the very same day as the infraction.
The clerk said she obtained the certificate that morning before she went to work. The Liquor Branch didn't rule on whether she obtained the certificate before or after the event.
The Liquor Branch pointed out the store was issued a penalty in 2018 for serving an underage customer, although avoided a fine.
"I find that the licensee’s policy and directions to its staff on when to ask for ID are inadequate," Liquor Branch Delegate Nerys Poole says in the decision.
The Delegate said policies that should have been put in place after the first infraction weren't and said it's "particularly disturbing" that the store appears to have even fewer policies in place than in 2018.
"I find that the licensee’s written policy of instructing staff to ask for ID of anyone under 19 is insufficient to ensure minors are not served. The licensee has failed to demonstrate that the store clerk received adequate training or that the licensee has established other systems to prevent the contravention of the sale of liquor to a minor," Poole said. "I find the failure to implement or the failure to continue with the policy change of instructing staff to ask for ID of anyone who looks under 25 to be particularly worrying."
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Ultimately, the store picked a $9,000 fine over being closed for seven days.
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