Kelowna houseboat company fined $15,000 for boozy cruise

A Kelowna company the operates houseboat cruises has been slapped with a $15,000 fine, the second in less than two years.

The company's boat The Boardroom was hosting an afternoon party in June 2023, when two liquor inspectors hopped aboard.

The music event was hosted by a third-party company and staff gave the inspectors free glasses of champagne upon boarding.

Staff were unaware the two inspectors were there to investigate.

Owner Redd-Op Services Inc. was licensed as a "food primary" business, but food only accounted for eight per cent of the sales that night, according to a BC Liquor and Cannabis Regulation decision.

Less than a year before the June 2023 afternoon party, the company was hit with a similar fine for $7,000.

The liquor branch increased the fine during because it was the second in less than two years, according to the Jan. 5 decision.

Inspectors found that although there was a kitchen on board, there was no menu available nor was there serving staff. There was also no advertising for food on the boat.

Instead, the event was largely focused on liquor and music with partiers repeatedly encouraged to "get lit," according to the decision.

"This left it wide open for what happened – the third-party operator in effect turning these food primary licensed premises into a bar with a focus on liquor," the decision read. "This lack of oversight by the licensee of third-party cruises is quite frankly serious."

The regulator didn't name the company that hosted the event, but pointed blame toward Redd-Op because it should have ensured the rules were followed.

Redd-Op has until Feb. 6 to pay the $15,000 penalty.

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