SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Three Yellowknife bars have been found guilty of Liquor Act violations, ranging from overcrowding to serving liquor to minors.

In hearings held late last week, the NWT Liquor Licensing Board handed down fines to the Gold Range Hotel, Sam's Monkey Tree Pub and Trader's Grill in the Explorer Hotel.

The Gold Range received the largest fine - $3,000 - for two violations on Oct. 3, including selling or supplying liquor to a minor and allowing someone "apparently under 19 years of age" to be inside the bar.

The board encouraged management to ensure employees check the ID of everyone who looks younger than 25 years old.

Sam's Monkey Tree Pub was fined $2,500 and ordered to close its doors for two days, between Dec. 18 and the morning of Dec. 21, for overcrowding on Aug. 29.

The board noted in a press release that this was the pub's first violation for overcrowding and there was "no evidence of the crowd being out of control."

The Explorer Hotel received the smallest fine at $750 for serving beer to intoxicated customers.

Employees of Trader's Grill were ordered to take a server training course within 30 days. The hotel pleaded guilty to the charges, laid under sections 92 and 93 of the NWT Liquor Act, which state that a licence holder "shall not allow an intoxicated person to enter or remain in a licensed premises" and that they can not "sell or serve liquor at a licensed premises to or for an intoxicated person."

Brad Patzer, legal counsel for Liquor Enforcement on the Explorer case, said the hotel's violation is "relatively minor."

"This is the first violation by the licensee, and right from the get-go they've admitted guilt."

All three fines are to be paid by Dec. 21.

Management from the Explorer Hotel, Gold Range Hotel and Sam's Monkey Tree Pub refused to comment on the violations.

Calls to Don Kindt, chairperson of the Liquor Licensing Board, were not returned by press time.

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