A Victoria restaurant has been fined $7,000 for serving a beer to a minor, the B.C. Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) decided this week.<\/p>\n
The incident occurred on June 11, 2025 at the Fifth Street Bar & Woodfire Grill at 1028 Hillside Avenue, when when a liquor inspector and a minor, hired through the liquor branch\u2019s \u201cMinors as Agents Program,\u201d visited the pub.<\/p>\n
The liquor inspector testified that they entered the restaurant separately, shortly after 4:45 p.m.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After the minor was seated, they ordered a Budweiser beer. Once the drink was delivered to the table, the minor left and the liquor inspector told the server what had happened and paid for the bill.<\/p>\n
\u2018Due diligence\u2019 test<\/p>\n
According to court records, the inspector claims, the server brought over the drinks without asking to verify government identification.<\/p>\n
The general manager of the restaurant says they did not see the service take place, but did not dispute what happened. Instead they claimed a defence of \u201cdue diligence\u201d to avoid paying the fine.<\/p>\n
To establish a defence of due diligence, a restaurant must pass two tests, according to the LCRB. One is to show that they have adequate training and rules in place for staff, and the other is to demonstrate they have procedures that ensure the rules are being followed on an ongoing basis.<\/p>\n
In the first test of due diligence, the the Woodfired Grill had a written Policy and Procedure Handbook covering \u201cemployment issues including payroll policies, attendance, vacation, and dress codes,\u201d says court documents.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
It also referenced the pub\u2019s Responsible Beverage Program including asking for government-issued ID from anyone under the age of 25 and avoiding over service of alcohol.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There is a space for employees to sign the document, acknowledging they\u2019ve read and understood the information. <\/p>\n
The minor involved was 16 years of age, and hired by the inspector through the Minor as Agents Program (MAP).<\/p>\n
Regarding the handbook on liquor service policies, Devine says \u201cThere is no evidence however that this Handbook was signed or understood by the server involved in the MAP sale to the minor agent.\u201d<\/p>\n
The decision<\/p>\n