Industry fined $1,000 for serving minor
Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Feb 09/01) - There needs to be a punishment that will discourage minors from trying to sneak into bars, say bar owners and liquor inspectors.
"There has to be some sort of punishment and a consistent punishment," said Willie Elder, general manager of the Black Knight pub and co-owner of the Industry night club. "Although they're 16 or 18, they're old enough to take responsibility for their actions."
Elder gave the advice to the Northwest Territories Liquor Licensing board yesterday, during a hearing that ended with the board fining the Industry $1,000 for allowing in a minor. It was the first time the Industry was charged with the offence, despite what co-owner Owen Smith said are "daily" attempts by minors to get into the bar.
Inspectors spotted the 16-year-old girl at the Industry at closing time Oct. 14. She was familiar to the two inspectors, because they had seen her just 10 minutes before at the Gallery, which is also facing a fine or license suspension as a result.
Inspector Russell Head said the girl appeared to be highly intoxicated and did not provide identification when he asked her for it at both bars. He later determined her age by checking yearbooks at St. Patrick's high school.
Under questioning from board counsel, Head said he did not have the authority to charge minors or even force them to leave a bar.
The RCMP can charge those under the legal drinking age of 19 with being in a bar, but are rarely called upon to do so. The Gallery hearing was postponed because the bar's owner was unable to attend due to ill health. Though it was less than the $2,000-$3,000 fine recommended by enforcement's counsel, Elder said the fine was going to hit the Industry hard.
"They think if you're busy you're rolling in dough, but what they don't understand is you're only busy during certain times of the week."
