A downtown Victoria bar and restaurant that has had a clean record with the B.C. Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch since it opened 10 years ago has been fined $7,000 for serving alcohol to a minor.

In a recent branch decision, Little Jumbo Restaurant and Bar at 506 Fort St. was disciplined for the infraction despite it being a first offence. Little Jumbo could have been fined as much as $11,000, according to the decision, and/or had its licence suspended from seven to 11 days.

The decision said the licensee, Little Jumbo, admitted it had served a minor alcohol on March 24, 2023, but was using a defence of B次元官网网址渄ue diligenceB次元官网网址� through its staff training and business structure. That defence, however, was rejected.

B次元官网网址淭he licensee noted that this whole experience has been a humbling, humiliating and distressing experience for all staff concerned,B次元官网网址� read the decision.

On the date in question, a branch inspector was conducting what is known as a minors as agents program (MAP) inspection. The branch hires minors aged 16 to 18 years old to help carry out the inspection.

The inspector arrived first at 5:03 p.m., said the decision, and sat down in Little Jumbo, a popular fine dining restaurant and bar. The minor agent, who is 17 years old, then came in and was sat at the bar by the restaurantB次元官网网址檚 host.

B次元官网网址淎 male bartender asked the minor agent if he was there for food and drinks,B次元官网网址� reads the decision. B次元官网网址淭he minor agent replied B次元官网网址榶esB次元官网网址� and then ordered a B次元官网网址楶athway Pale AleB次元官网网址� from the menu. The male bartender did not ask the minor agent for identification and proceeded to provide the minor agent with a tall clear glass containing an amber liquid. The restaurant menu showed B次元官网网址楶athway Pale AleB次元官网网址� as 16 ounces of beer with 5% alcohol by volume.B次元官网网址�

The minor agent, who didnB次元官网网址檛 drink the beer, then asked for the bill, paid and left.

B次元官网网址淭he liquor inspector testified that he was able to hear the conversation between the bartender and the minor agent,B次元官网网址� said the decision. B次元官网网址淗e testified that the lighting at the bar was quite dim. He stated that the minor agent had the beer in front of him for about one minute prior to exiting the restaurant.B次元官网网址�

Little Jumbo had several people testify in its defence.

B次元官网网址淎ll the licenseeB次元官网网址檚 witnesses testified that they take liquor service very seriously and they are quick to respond, if ever, to any issues,B次元官网网址� said the decision. B次元官网网址淭he witnesses referred to the restaurantB次元官网网址檚 focus on a more mature clientele and that the instances of minors requesting alcohol are pretty rare. They also referred to the early closing time which discourages late night drinkers from coming into the restaurant.

B次元官网网址淭he floor manager described the ID policy in the restaurant. If a customer appears to be 30 or under, staff are instructed to request two pieces of ID as set out in the SIR manual. The restaurant gets a lot of tourists; often they have to refuse liquor service if the ID presented is not one of the acceptable pieces of ID. When asked how the age of 30 was chosen, the floor manager responded that it seems to be the common guideline in the industry as it leaves little room for error. The floor manager added that staff are regularly told that if in any doubt about requesting ID, or they are reluctant to ask for whatever reason, to seek out him or the bar manager who will then ask.

B次元官网网址淎s to the type of training given to new staff on how to know when to request ID, the floor manager explained that they tell staff to ID anyone requesting alcohol who appears young B次元官网网址� person may have a beard or tattoo. He stated there are no specific features and that they leave it to individual staff to make a determination as to whether someone appears to be 30 or under B次元官网网址� that it comes down to judgment.B次元官网网址�

Little Jumbo also presented a letter from the bartender in question, who was working their first shift alone after four shifts of shadowing and being shadowed.

B次元官网网址淚 was much more focused on the behaviour of the actual board officer (the liquor inspector) who seemed very sketchy, moving tables, being weird, than I was in anything else,B次元官网网址� the bartender wrote to the branch. B次元官网网址淗e stuck out and was behaving oddly and was quite distracting. His demeanour seemed off B次元官网网址� I was certainly focused on that.B次元官网网址�

That point was specifically addressed and rejected in the branch decision.

B次元官网网址淎s the licenseeB次元官网网址檚 witnesses emphasized several times in their testimony how unusual it was for a lone customer to appear immediately at opening and for another customer to be moving from one table to another, I wish to comment on the question of distraction as an excuse for why a contravention occurred,B次元官网网址� said the decision. B次元官网网址淭he restaurant was not at all busy at 5:00 pm, even though staff would naturally be preoccupied with ensuring it was ready for the evening guests. Distractions are an inevitable part of any licensed establishment and may occur at any time. This does not excuse a relaxation of the rules around making ID requests.B次元官网网址�

The full decision .

READ MORE: