Undercover liquor inspectors bust BC bar for letting patrons sing karaoke
A BC bar that allowed people to sing karaoke and served alcohol past midnight has been fined $10,000 and shuttered for three weeks.
According to Feb. 21 BC Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch decision, the Sunset Bar and Grill didn't have a licence for karaoke and served patrons 40 minutes after its liquor licence had expired.
The Prince Rupert bar argued it had been trying for more than a year to get a new licence and if the liquor board would grant it a licence for karaoke and let it stay open an hour or so later then it wouldn't have broken any rules.
The bar didn't get far with its defence as the liquor board pointed out the "seriousness of the contravention" and the "threat to the public safety and the well-being of the community."
The liquor board doesn't say why karaoke is a threat to public safety.
The decision says in February 2024, two BC liquor inspectors conducted a "covert public safety inspection."
The liquor inspectors found about 20 people in the bar, 10 were on the dance floor and some were singing karaoke.
"To maintain their covert status the inspectors did not identify themselves at that time," the decision reads.
The DJ encouraged one of the liquor inspectors to do karaoke, although the decision doesn't mention whether the liquor inspector took up the offer.
The liquor inspectors saw bar staff serve alcohol after midnight, even though its licence didn't allow for that as of 12 a.m.
The decision says the bar has a food primary licence and is only allowed "non-participation entertainment" such as a band or a comedian, and if it wants "patron-participation entertainment" such as karaoke, it needs to get a special licence.
On a separate occasion several months earlier, an RCMP officer had entered the bar at 11:30 p.m. and spoke to the manager who said he would stop serving drinks at 12:20 a.m. and close up by 1 a.m.
However, when the officer returned 40 minutes later he found people still being served and the DJ playing music. There were about 20 people in the bar.
He returned just after 1 a.m. and the bar was still hopping.
"The officer exited the establishment at 1:45 a.m., noting patrons continued to come and go from the establishment and the music was still playing," the decision reads.
After the RCMP officer's visit, the liquor board requested documents from the bar's owner, Kaien Island Holdings.
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While some records were sent the bar didn't provide a breakdown between food sales and liquor sales and further requests for documentation "went unanswered."
"I find the Licensee has been operating with a disregard of its obligation to comply with the (regulations)," Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch Delegate Dianne Flood said in the decision.
The decision says this is the second instance in two years the bar has failed to hand over records in time.
Looking at steep fines for a total of four infractions the bar argued it would rather face a suspension of its licence than have to pay a fine.
However, Flood said the bar's compliance history "weighed heavily against it" when it came to finding an appropriate penalty.
"I have also considered that the imposition of an appropriate penalty is intended to both redress the licensee’s non-compliance and, by way of deterrence, to encourage future compliance," the liquor board delegate says.
While the bar wanted a temporary closure, Flood ordered both.
For allowing karaoke it had its licence suspended for one day, for serving after hours it was fined $3,000, and for allowing people to drink more than 30 minutes after last call it was fined $7,000. And for not producing the paperwork on time it was shuttered for three weeks.
Ultimately, the bar was ordered to pay $10,000 and will be shut for 22 days.
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