Lakeshore Advance, 2012-09-12, Page 7.4 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Dirty Dogs and Predators want amendments from liquor policy
Lynda Hillman -Replay
Lakeshore Advance
While some Lambton Shores
councilors take issue with
alcohol at the Shores and
Legacy Centres, others say let
adults be adults. With the new
municipal alcohol policy there
is no way for Thedfords Dirty
Dogs Senior AA team and
Forest's Predators to make
money from a bar at the two
arenas. Council said when all is
said and done- consessions can
be made for both teams.
The 'Medford Dirty Dogs are
a Senior AA llockey team who
make home base the newly
renovated Legacy Centre. Prior
to the renovation the Dirty
Dogs would host a licensed
area from the upstairs meeting
room. This meeting room was
equipped with a bar area and a
window viewing area which
patrons could watch the hockey
game while enjoying a
beverage. This was one of their
main revenue generators.
Originally with the
renovation of the Legacy Centre
it was proposed that the bar
area would be relocated into
'Phomas hall and that patrons
would be able to enjoy the
game still through closed
circuit 'PV however due to
budgetary constraints the
closed circuit TV. Infrastructure
was removed front the project.
This also placed the team in a
bit of a dilemma as to how to
continue to serve alcohol while
continuing to hnve people
enjoys the game.
The Dirty Dogs have sent a
letter to the Municipality
requesting the use of the far
most easterly side of the stands
as a licensed area for during all
of their home games. As per the
Municipal Alcohol Policy these
types of requests must be sent
to council for review and
direction. 'There is a storage
roost within the area in which
they would store the items
required to host the bar and
each time the Dirty Dogs to opt
to host this event they would
be required to apply for a liquor
license. The team would also
be required to have security
and smart serve volunteers
within the area to maintain
control.
Staff say it should be noted
Lynda HNINnon-Rapiey Lakeshore Advance
Lambton Shores mayor Bill Weber (centre) drops the puck at Saturday's Exhibition game at the Legacy Centre with Lucknow
Lancers winning 4- The next game Is Friday night at the Legacy Center against Milverton 4 Wheel Drives, With Weber are Ean
Moffat (Lucknow Lancers) and Shawn Duncan (Thedford Dirty Dogs).
that after the games this area
would he closed and reopened
in 'Phomas I fall until no later
than 1:OOam. '('his request
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would be consistent with past practice
of having the bar in the upper area of
the arena.
Right off top deputy mayor
Elizabeth Davis 1)agg said she had
concerns with their request.
Councilor Martin Underwood
disagreed stating the issue is with the
hockey teams not being able to sell
adult drinks to adults, "We are making
a lot of assumptions about our
community," he said.
Councilor Ruth lllman said there is
a little history and a lot of input front
the community for the new alcohol
policies. "'Phis document is reasonable
and moderate and we provide for
Special Occasion Permits (SOP) in a
lot of places. We need to manage risk
and laibility," she said. "We need to be
responsible leaders." Illman reminded
council there is a higher use and
abuse in Lambton opposed to
provincial average. When she said the
Shores is a wellness centre councilor
Doug Bonesteel said, "With due
respect- if you are going to classify the
Shores as a wellness place -take
hockey out and put in ringette,
fooseball-whatever." Ile said they
need to separate minor junior hockey
from senior. "livery junior team has a
licenced area to offset costs -not their
major thing -but helps them -let adults
adults and look at this on the business
side. "This is not minor hockey," he
said, Mayor Bill Weber said the
Predators are looking at the same
thing and that perhaps they can
approve the policy and then stake
amendments for the two teams.
Councilor John Russel reminded
council that the Predators are a
private businesses. Ile said this
municipality has invested a lot of
money in these facilies and theyb
need to build on it. "We don't have
drunkeness like we did 20 years ago,"
he said.
"1 don't see a need to reinvent the
wheel," said councilor Martin
Underwood, "There are certain
responsibilites but we do not have 10
be like a police state -there is a law of
the land through the province."
Councilor Lorie Scott agreed saving
the rules and regulations are followed
by the workers who have Smart
Serve.
A bit of history
Peggy Van Mierlo West told council
the reason they have the alcohol
policy was because if they did not -
there would be no age of majority
events. She said there was a south
Lambton Shores event where there
was so much drunkeness they were
told by the province if they did not
come up with it policy- they would be
shut down for all events- allowing no
alcohol anywhere in the mnicipality.
That story was followed up by llhnan's
stating right after the Shores wa
built- there was a Buck and Doe this,
brought too many people and too
much alcohol. The next day the doors
were off the hinges, broken glass,
cigarette butts everywhere and the
new lobby smelled like it brewery.
That, she says is why there are no
longer buck and does permitted in
these buildings. She said the policy
allows for options and they can do
something for the two hockey teams.
Underwood said he can't agree with
the policy saying, " I bet 50 years ago
councils were talking about not
having rock and roll in the buildings.
These are adults." Bonesteel said it is
tough to hear these things happen
and the last thing they want is for the
Legacy or Shores being considered
the town pub. "'('his is for adults. We
need amendments for both:'