A covert inspection of a music cruise on Okanagan Lake where patrons were encouraged to 鈥済et lit鈥� against the terms of its license resulted in the maximum fine for a 麻豆精选 business owner.
The Jan. 5, decision made by the manager of the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch states that as this is the second infraction of 鈥楳.V. The Boardroom鈥�, a boat owned by Michael Reddecliff, in the past two years, the maximum penalty of $15,000 will be imposed.
On June 16, 2023, an undercover Investigator for the Regulation Branch boarded The M.V. Boardroom for the music event that was being hosted by a third-party operator.
The Investigator alleges that the operations did not meet the primary purpose of the Food Primary License. He noted that a failure to advertise, announce, or promote food service, a lack of menus and serving staff, very limited food options available, difficulty in ordering food, insufficient seating to eat, limited hours of food service while liquor continued to be served, and the high percentage of liquor sales compared to the food sales.
According to the report, on that particular day the boat鈥檚 liquour sales accounted for 92 per cent of all sales.
The inspector also alleges that the third-party operator encouraged patrons several times to 鈥済et lit鈥� without encouraging people to eat food. The regulation branch explains that the phrase is a 鈥渃olloquial expression meaning to party and to drink more or to get drunk.鈥� The board found that this distracted patrons from the food service, despite the fact that the establishment holds a Food Primary License.
Reddecliff alleges that he has attempted to secure a Liquor Primary license, but he has faced difficulties as he has received conflicting information from the Branch.
The application for the different license has recently been approved by the City of 麻豆精选 and is now with the Branch for approval.
Reddecliff had asked for the minimum penalty of $11,000 instead of the maximum while admitting to acting against the terms of his existing license. The LCRB manager has ordered him to pay the $15,000 fine by February 6.
READ MORE: Coast Guard on the case: Multiple sinking boats on Okanagan Lake
