Loading...
Lakeshore Advance, 2011-08-17, Page 9w.m v.+Lw*mLakeshorem� 17, ��..9 Lambton Shores will look at guidelines for new alcohol policies Lynda HIllman-Rapley Lakeshore Advance approach the municipality for a resolution would include local organizations who do not In 2007, the Municipal Alcohol have charitable status, but who Policy was approved. This policy do operate events that aims was created to lessen the expo- to enhance the quality of life for sure of the municipality to liabil- residents either through fund- ity arising out of the use of manic- raising or entertainment. ipal facilities for alcohol-related Notification to municipalities events. The Municipal Alcohol for outdoor events • "olicy has reduced the potential As of August 2 2011, applicants tor alcohol related problems; for a public event SOP must pro - reduced the risk of injury and vide 30 days notice to the AGC() death to patrons, loss of enjoy- and local municipality for events mens of the patrons, as well as the with fewer than 5,000 people in risk of liability actions. Lambton attendance and 60 days notice for Shores Community Services events with 5,000 or more people departments asked council for attending. This does not have a direction regarding the new significant impact on municipal amendments, operations. All renters having a special Tiered Seating event in a municipal facility who Applicants can apply for a SOP are serving alcohol must also for tiered seating such as bleach - obtain a Special Occasion Permit ers. There are both pros and culls (SOP). Special Occasion Permits for allowing tiered seating areas (SOPs) are required for facility to become SOP licensed. renters who are hosting functions Allowing for SOPs in tiered involving liquor service in pub- seating could assist sports organ - facilities and parks. In lAunb- izations in attracting additional ton Shores, SOPs are used for fans as there are currently limited events such as weddings, fund- areas within arenas for licensed raisers, family reunions, baseball areas during sporting events. It tournaments, receptions, etc, could also help to attract special Licensed events can vary signifi- events such as concerts to facili- candy in scope and size. ties, allowing both the arena floor On June 1, 2011, the Govern- and stands to be licensed. meat of Ontario introduced sev- However, there are several eral amendments to the Liquor drawbacks to allowing for SOPs License Act, affecting the provi- in tiered seating. First would be sion of alcohol sale and service patron safety. The likelihood of through Special Occasion Per- trips and falls increases in these slits. Highlights to these changes areas due to the stairs and poten- can be reviewed in the Alcohol tial for spills. It can also provide and Ganging Comrnission Infor- maintenance issue s, which mation Bulletin at www.lambton- would affect operational costs. shores.com. Finally, there may he less control As noted in the Information of a l i c e n s e d event in Bulletin, the regulatory changes tiered seating. are being introduced in three Hour of Sale and Service phases: June 1 2011, August 2 Except for New Year's Eve, the 2011 and July 2012. July 2012 amended Liquor License Act changes are still being reviewed allows for the sale and service of and have not yet been intro- liquor for SOPs from 11:OOam to duced. The June 1 201 1 and 2:00arn the following day. New August 2 2011 amendments are Year's Eve sale and service hours discussed in further detail below. for liquor are 11:00arm to 3:00am "Public Event" Special Occa- the following day. Previously, liq- sion Permit uor sale and service was to cease As noted in the attached bulle- by 1:OOarn, with the exception of tin, "Public Event" replaces three New Year's Eve to cease at types of special occasions (fund- 2:00arn. isers, significant events and Extension of liquor service will rnmunity events). A Public have an impact of facility opera- .,,nent is one that is conducted by tions as operators will be required a registered charity or a non- to stay later to accommodate profit entity, or an event these functions. On average, of municipal, provincial, national these additional operational costs or international significance; could range from $50.00 - $100.00 events of municipal, significance depending on the number of must be defined as such by a res- staff and types of services olution from Municipal Council, required. Council can authorize the Designate on a Permit Municipal Clerk to provide this In order to designate a person designation on their behalf to attend in the Special Occasion in order to streamline Council Permit holder's place, a signature meetings. Guidelines on what Is required from both the desig- consdtutes an event of municipal nate and the SOP holder on the significance is at the discretion of permit. There is no impact to the Council. Groups that may municipality for this amendment. Posting the permit and levy receipt 'Ihe permit and levy no longer has to be posted at an SOP event, but trust be available to AGCO inspectors and police. There is not impact to the municipality for this amendment. Conditions on a SOP 'Ihe Registrar may impose con- ditions on a Special Occasion Permit depending on the nature of the event and/or compliance history of the permit holder. 'Ihese conditions may or may not impact the municipality, and will need to be dealt with on an individual basis. Types and quantities of liquor A permit holder is no longer restricted to selling or serving certain amounts or types of liquor. This does not have any impact on the municipality. Record of food purchased Permit holders no longer have to keep a record of food pur- chased for a SOP event. 'Ihis has no impact on the municipality. Monetary Penalties for SOPs Special Occasion Permit hold- ers may he assessed monetary penalties for breaches of the Liq- uor License Act and regulations. 'lllis has no direct impact on the municipality. Outdoor SOP holders May Now Enter Into Agreement with Liquor Sales Licensees Patrons can trove freely between the SOP licensed area and adjacent licensed areas (i.e. bars, restaurants, etc.) with a sin- gle serving of alcohol, under cer- tain conditions. This would only apply in the case where a SOP has been obtained for a street area, and there are permanent licensed areas immediately adjacent. 'There are a few changes which will directly affect the operation of the Municipality and its events. These impacts can be mitigated through revisions of the Lambton Shores Alcohol Pol- icy. Items such as allowing the Clerk to designate a Public Event, limiting hours of sales and serv- icing and allowed licensed tier seating should be discussed. The Community Services Department was seeking Council direction on these items, and should amendments to the existing Municipal Alcohol Pol- icy be required, a subse- quent report will be prepared for Council, While deputy mayor Elizabeth Davis Dagg opposed all the amendments, councilor Martin Underwood was okay with all - stating they are provincial poli- cies so they must have been reviewed before the province made them. Councilor Doug Bonesteel said they have two major facilities and reality dictates they need alcohol for events to make money. "We can't lose custom- ers," he says. Davis Dagg feels the liabil- ity is too great and it should not be this council who opens up the rules. Coun- cilor Doug Cook says Smart Serve deter- mines what goes on and they have been serving alcohol at municipal buildings for years. " People get drunk in their back yards, we need to be responsible - we are not changing a mandate. Coun- cilor Martin Underwood said they don't want to be "mom and pop- these are provincial policies- and we as a council will have options." Council will need to set up policy, procedures and guidelines. TD Canada Trust Switch your chequing account to TD Canada Trust and get the convenience of unlimited transactions. www.tdcanadatrust.com/switch • 1-800-577-9592 Banking can be this comfortable Switch and eget up to S250. ID ' Ofla amiable august 1 to Ociobw 14, 2011 bug may be dargrd, szwnid a withdrawn at ary time without nuke. fad lions ce* See us kr detols. ®/ The ID bp and of er sadenvais aro the meaty c4 the Wronto0ani ion Bank a a atrolrowmd su6sidary, in Walk and/a NW tours*.