A well-liked pub in downtown Port Arthur has closed off its faucets and isn’t any longer serving alcohol due to a months-old expired liquor licence.
The Sovereign Room’s liquor gross sales licence expired on Aug. 3, 2024, stated an Alcohol and Gaming Fee of Ontario (AGCO) spokesperson.
The pub proprietor stated that AGCO shut liquor gross sales down final weekend throughout The Starvation, Thunder Bay’s annual Halloween Competition, the pub’s proprietor, Scott Arnott, instructed Ontario Chronicle when reached by telephone.
Arnot confirmed the Sovereign Room was open Thursday for meals gross sales solely.
“The Sovereign Room isn’t approved to promote and serve liquor,” stated AGCO in an e mail to Ontario Chronicle.
Arnot stated the pub was unable to resume its liquor licence as a consequence of new tax compliance laws.
“As they’re not a licence holder, any additional operations can be a matter for the native police service,” AGCO stated. “No renewal utility was submitted to the AGCO and there aren’t any new purposes at present pending earlier than the AGCO.”
This September 10 submit from the Sovereign Room’s Instagram reveals the ‘featured drink’ of the night– over a month after their liquor license expired. (Sovereign Room/Instagram)
Promoting liquor with out legitimate licence unlawful: lawyer
“Look, you are not allowed to promote liquor until you might have a licence to take action,” stated Harrison Jordan, a lawyer at Substance Legislation, a Toronto-based agency specializing in regulated substances and industries.
Anybody concerned within the unlicensed sale and/or serving of alcohol could possibly be held liable, he stated.
Any institution doing so, and its workers, might face potential charges beneath provincial liquor laws, stated Jordan, who isn’t related to the Sovereign Room or its scenario. In extra to provincial legislation, the AGCO has a framework of administrative financial penalties and sanctions that could possibly be laid in opposition to the licence holder, he stated.
As of July 1, 2023, anybody making use of for or renewing a liquor licence in Ontario must show they’re updated on their tax filings. These with unfiled returns or unpaid taxes will not be capable to get a Tax Compliance Verification (TCV) quantity.
“You should have a compliant TCV quantity with a purpose to renew, and so that’s one thing that would maintain up a renewal,” stated Jordan.
Liquor licences must be renewed upfront and cannot be renewed after they expire. Typically licensees who’ve submitted renewal requests can get interim authorization to proceed promoting alcohol whereas the AGCO assesses the renewal, stated Jordan.
The AGCO stated the Sovereign Room has not submitted an utility for a renewal or new licence.
