A Surrey restaurant was ordered to close for 13 days after B.C.’s liquor regulator found it had served patrons after hours.
In a newly released April 8 decision, the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch found The Indian Club Kitchen & Bar had violated provincial regulations.
Branch general manager’s delegate Nerys Poole noted in the decision that the hours of sale of liquor on the licence run from 9 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week.
“The restaurant often stays open until 3 a.m. but is restricted from selling any liquor after midnight,” Poole said.
Poole said three alleged contraventions occurred on Oct. 27, 2024, after the clock struck midnight on the business day of Oct. 26.
She said those alleged contraventions were selling or serving liquor outside business hours, failing to take liquor from patrons within 30 minutes after the hours of end of sale and allowing patrons to consume liquor in service area after 30 minutes after end of hours of liquor service.
Poole said two inspectors were at the business on the day in question.
The decision said the first inspector was served alcohol around 2 a.m.
It said the second inspector had seen a table served and asked what was in glasses. He was told it was ginger beer. The inspector asked the bartender and server to retrieve a glass so he could test it and the bartender refused.
One of the operators wondered why the inspectors had to run a covert operation.
“He questioned why such an operation is necessary for a restaurant,” Poole said. “They are not drug dealers or terrorists. He stated they are not criminals, not committing illegal activities; they are trying to run a business.”
The branch had proposed penalties of $1,000 or one-day licence suspension; a $9,000 penalty; or a $3,000 monetary penalty and three-day licence suspension.
Poole said licence suspensions were alternatives to the fines.
She said the training provided at the restaurant was adequate.
“What is missing here is evidence of the substance of the training and regular reminders or notices about the hours of service,” Poole said. “I find this is particularly important in the situation here where the restaurant remains open until 3 a.m. but liquor service stops at midnight.”
Poole found three licence contraventions and imposed the total 13-day suspension.
