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Liquor inspections reduced Fewer spot checks at licensed premises
Daniel Campbell
Northern News Services
Published Friday, July 26, 2013
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Liquor inspections in Yellowknife dropped over the past year compared to previous years, due to a reduction in inspectors, a liquor commission spokesperson said.
A total of 564 inspections were completed in Yellowknife at various liquor establishments from April 2012 to March 2013, down from 776 the previous year.
Jamie Koe, director, corporate affairs with the Department of Finance, said the number of inspections done each year are usually based on risk-assessment, that is, the likelihood of establishments or patrons violating liquor regulations.
But over the past year, inspections at establishments in Yellowknife have taken a dip, not because the establishments are less likely to offend, but because there are not enough inspectors.
Koe said over the past year there's been a sudden departure of qualified inspectors. A lack of new applicants and the amount of time it takes to train them has created a gap in enforcement.
Liquor inspectors don't work directly for the territorial government, they're contracted and hired based on their experience and background. Usually applicants have some sort of enforcement or legal training.
Koe said the inspectors work part-time, and usually live within the community and work other jobs.
"Liquor inspectors are asked to work at random times, with an emphasis on later hours and weekends," Koe said. "Finding time in their lives to maintain this commitment is the biggest challenge for inspectors as they typically have other jobs and family."
It's a tough job, Koe said, where inspectors often deal with intoxicated bar-goers and surly bar owners. Not surprisingly, it can be difficult to stay on good terms with licensees.
"Doing their job runs in conflict with licensees who generally take any type of negative report, however minimal, very personal," Koe said.
The Liquor Licensing Board holds compliance hearings where it can order suspensions and fines for licensees who violate regulations.
Common infractions include serving or selling drinks to intoxicated patrons and allowing intoxicated individuals to come into or stay inside a licensed establishment.
Fines range anywhere from a few hundred dollars, to $5,000. In December 2011, Sam's Monkey Tree Pub was fined $5,000 for serving drinks to intoxicated persons, and allowing intoxicated individuals to stay at the bar. The Monkey Tree's licence was also suspended for six days.
The Monkey Tree seems to incur the harshest penalties in Yellowknife, according to past compliance hearings. The Pelican Boardroom in Fort Smith, for example, only received a fine of $500 and a suspension of its licence for one day for the same two offences as the Monkey Tree in October 2011.
Jimmy Kong, the owner of Sam's Monkey Tree, has held liquor licences at various establishments in Yellowknife for 20 years. He said he's had some conflict in the past with individual inspectors, but for the most part he's happy with the enforcement.
"Generally we get along pretty well," Kong said.
He said he hasn't noticed any liquor inspectors at his bar recently.
"We haven't had any violations this year."
Koe said inspectors have a policy targeting "high-risk" licensees more often than others. Yellowknife has 45 licensed establishments, so that means certain bars might be getting inspected dozens of times per year.
The inspectors decide which bars are high risk based on the number of previous violations, reports from RCMP, how busy the establishment is and if the crowd is younger as well as the type of entertainment being provided.
Even with the decrease in inspectors, Koe believes the department still be able to enforce liquor regulations in Yellowknife.
"We are still confident that the number of inspections completed is adequate."
Last year the liquor commission made $445,000 in revenue from liquor licensing fees and special permits.
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