
The employee testified that she was shocked and devastated to learn that she had sold liquor to a minor, the ruling notes.Īt the time, the store’s employee handbook directs staff to check the ID of anyone appearing to be 25 or under. It does not normally provide a lawful excuse for failing to ask for ID,” the ruling notes. “Distractions are one of the factors that may play a part when determining if it is necessary to request ID from a customer. The branch did not accept that argument, however. The employee told the branch she was distracted by the presence of the undercover inspector who was standing around inside the store and texting a friend, which she found odd. The teen also appeared confident, made eye contact and didn’t exhibit any behaviours liquor store employees are trained to watch for in underage shoppers.

The employee testified the minor appeared to be about 25 years of age, similar to the age of servers in the pub. Pemberton Station didn’t dispute that their staff had sold alcohol to a minor, but instead argued they had done their due diligence. “Enforcement action was recommended because of the adverse effects of liquor on young adults,” the ruling states. The minor came in and bought alcohol without being asked for ID, according to the ruling, and then left. In the sting, which took place in January, a liquor inspector went into the store and texted the minor agent outside. In November 2022, the branch sent a message to all liquor licence holders in the province letting them know that random inspections would be resuming. They are told to dress as the would normally and receive $20 to buy something in a store.
Undercover heat how to#
Under the program, the minor agents receive training on how to make a purchase.

In 2010, the province began a program to send minors into liquor establishments as agents of provincial regulator. A North Vancouver pub’s off-sales liquor store will have its licence temporarily suspended after getting caught selling booze to a minor in a sting by the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch.Īccording to a ruling published last week, Pemberton Station Pub’s cold beer and wine store will have to close for seven days starting on June 9.
