Kelowna pub fined after serving 18-year-old in sting operation

iNwine

A Kelowna pub, which sold a bottle of Budweiser to an 18-year-old in a sting operation, has been fined $7,000.

The Post Haus Pub was caught last December by a BC liquor inspector selling a single beer to the teen, who told the waitress he was waiting for his wife.

According to a May 29 Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch decision, the 18-year-old entered the Post Haus Pub at 7:57 p.m. after another member of the inspection team had gone inside and conducted a “risk assessment.”

The decision said the waitress, who has 30 years of experience, brought the teen a bottle of Budweiser to his table and left without asking for identification.

“The inspector took a picture of the minor agent with the bottle of beer following which a signal was given for the minor agent to leave the premises,” the decision read.

The inspector then identified themselves to the waitress, before paying for the beer.

“The bottle of beer was emptied and taken out of the premises to the government vehicle used in the inspections at 8:08 p.m.” the decision read.

The pub owner was then issued a $7,000 fine.

In its defence, the pub didn’t deny it served the teen, but argued it had done its due diligence.

The waitress said she’d been in the industry for about 30 years and worked at the pub for three years.

She said during staff meetings there were discussions about serving minors and the employee handbook set out the policy.

On the night she served the teen, the pub was very busy and the 18-year-old said he was waiting for his wife, and she thought he was at least 25 years old. After the infraction, she now asks “just about everybody” for ID.

The owner pub owner, David Low, argued the business has been open since 2008 and has never had an infraction.

However, the Liquor inspector argued that servers got little training when they started working there and the policy of asking for ID from customers under age 19 did not give “enough certainty” about when to ask for ID. 

“The policy to ask for ID from anyone under 30 years of age was not well explained to employees.  As well, there was insufficient follow-up training of staff after their hire,” the decision read.

However, Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch delegate Paul Devine ruled the pub only had two or three staff meetings a year where the staff handbook was discussed.

“Other than these meetings, there was no further training or quizzes with staff over service issues including about asking for ID. I therefore conclude that the licensee did not have adequate steps in place to avoid the contravention,” Devine ruled.

Ultimately, the Liquor Branch issued a $7,000 fine. The pub has 30 days to pay.