The Lucknow Sentinel, 2013-12-18, Page 3Wednesday, December 18, 2013 • Lucknow Sentinel 3
Huron -Kinloss sets new liquor policy impacting events
Steven Goetz
Kincardine News
For many years, 'stag and
does' have attracted large
crowds to local community
centres, with cash bars, and
raffles raising money for the
bride and groom.
But new liquor licence
rules and stepped up
enforcement from OPP and
inspectors have intimidated
many couples who are
instead holding events on
private property.
The Township of Huron -
Kinloss hopes to draw these
events back to community
centres by taking over respon-
sibility for liquor sales.
Under a new permanent
liquor license, the township
would provide bartending
services, freeing events from
restrictions on special occa-
sion liquor permits, and
allow profit sharing with
event organizers and com-
munity groups.
Facilities and Recreation
Director Mike Fair presented
the draft Facility Alcohol
Licensing bylaw at a public
meeting attended by about
15 members of local service
clubs on Wednesday, Dec. 4.
The Ripley -Huron Com-
munity Centre will be named
on the liquor sales licence,
and will be able to provide
alcohol sales and service to
special events at all Town-
ship of Huron -Kinloss
facilities.
The proposal calls for 20
per cent of profits to go to
event organizers. Service
clubs and 'stag and does' will
receive an additional 25 per
cent in the form of a grant.
The Facilities and Recrea-
tion Department will hire
Smart Serve certified bar-
tenders and offer a wage of
$12 per hour.
Bartenders will have the
option to donate their wages
back to community groups
when working their events.
"The purpose of this is to
make things easier for our
service clubs and easier for
'stag and does,"' said Fair, in a
phone interview.
The Alcohol and Gaming
Commission of Ontario
(AGCO), which issues liquor
permits and licences, intro-
duced new rules for special
occasion permits in July
2012.
Only registered charities
or non-profit organizations
can receive a public event
permit under the new rules.
An exception is made for
events promoted or sup-
ported by council, such as
sports tournaments or
reunions.
Family celebrations, like
'stag and does,' weddings or
POLICE BRIEFS
Rollover in North Huron
Huron County Ontario OPP, Blyth Fire Department personnel and
Huron County Paramedics responded to a single motor vehicle
rollover collision early Dec. 12. Just before 7:30 a.m. emergency
personnel responded to the collision scene on London Road just
north of Blyth.
Police said the driver of a Dodge Ram pickup truck was acceler-
ating out of the 50 km/h zone into the 90 km/h zone on London
Road when he lost control of his truck. The pickup slid off the
roadway into the west ditch where it rolled and eventually came
to rest on the driver's side.
The lone occupant, a 21 -year-old male driver from Goderich was
transported by ambulance to hospital with minor injuries. He has
since been released. The pickup truck was demolished.
Huron County OPP would like to remind driver's to always drive
according to road and weather conditions.
_ Nothing brings a smile to our faces
m. faster than recalling the
friendship and
kindness of all the
good folks we've had
• the pleasure to serve
this year.
Allan and Lucy Miller
Holyrood Store & Post Office
anniversaries, require a private event
permit, which comes with restrictions.
Events cannot be open to the public or
advertised and organizers cannot profit
from the sale of alcohol at the event.
On top of these changes, the AGCO
and OPP have stepped up enforcement
of alcohol and gambling regulations,
approaching municipalities over the
last year to tell them to make sure
events follow the rules or risk being
held responsible.
Many games played at 'stag and does'
- raffles, door prizes, any games of
chance - were breaking gambling rules
and the OPP has promised they will no
longer turn a blind eye.
Gone are the days when organizers
could expect the whole town would
descend on a 'stag and doe' on an oth-
erwise quiet Saturday night, boosting
drink sales and profits.
Many couples have opted to hold
events on private property, often
stretching if not outright breaking the
rules and leaving themselves liable to
major penalties should something go
wrong.
Despite what many think, it was and
still is possible to make money at a 'stag
and doe' under the restrictions, which
do allow organizers to recover all
expenses - rentals, security, insurance,
food - from drink sales. Profit can then
come from admission sales, games of
skill, auctions are donations. Even the
much -loved 'toonie toss' is permitted
as long as the prize is a LCBO gift card
instead of the target bottle.
Still, the limits on advertising pose a
challenge for organizers who must sell
enough tickets in advance to make an
event viable.
The township's proposed bylaw will
circumvent these restrictions, which
don't apply to permanent liquor license
holders.
Fair is hoping the new policy will
attract 'stag and does' back to the com-
munity centres and people stop taking
the risks of holding events on private
, ,N
LEGION
2014 New Year's Day
President's Levee
The President and Members
of Lucknow Branch 309
of the Royal Canadian Legion
cordially invite you to attend
the
President's New Year's Levee
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
1 to 4 p.m.
Jubilee Room - Lucknow Legion
property.
The new policy also removes some of
the liability for event organizers whose
names appeared on special occasion
permits.
"The biggest benefit, especially to the
'stag and doe' is they don't need to get a
special occasion permit or go get the
beer and bring it back," Fair said. "All
those expenses and time will be taken
care of by us"
Fair said some at the meeting raised
concerns about the profit-sharing
model but he thinks the proposal is bal-
anced so the township recovers its costs
and event organizers benefit.
"We want to make sure the funds are
driven back to those groups and we
don't want to see 'stag and does' going
on in barns, garages and sheds," Fair
said. "We will reevaluate the process
after it has been running for a year to
make sure it is working properly."
Council voted on the new bylaw at its
Monday, Dec. 16 meeting after the
newspaper's print deadline.
Submitted
Lions award winner!
The Lucknow Lions Club's Tom Hogan was presented with the Dog Guides Fellowship
Award recently, in recognition for years of raising thousands of dollars in funds for
the organization that trains five types of working dogs. These dogs are then given
to needy blind, autistic, heading impaired, companion and diabetic individuals for
free. L -R: Lions president Wayne Todd presented Hogan with the award, along with
secretary Jack Cameron.
Holiday
Greetinrs
Here's hoping your holiday is
uplifting in every way! We're
always proud to be of service
and we thank you for your
continued patronage.
Ashfield Service Centre
Tony & Marilyn Miltenburg Garry Scott,
Dave Payne, Kevin Hanson &
Daniel Miltenburg
J
Marianne & Lawrence
Hogan and
Cathy & Doug Fisher
are thrilled to announce
the upcoming marriage
of their children
Julia Justine and
Jordan Harold James
on Saturday, December 21st
�pLLOAga1�
\ Family, friends, and neighbours
J are invited to join us in celebration,
beginning at 9:OOpm at the Knights
N— of Columbus Hall, Goderich