Liquor changes on the way in Saskatchewan

(Apr. 21/09) Saskatchewan recently announced changes to a number of provincial liquor regulations of interest to licensed operators.  While many of the changes were first announced in August 2007, others have just come into effect.
 
Enforcement and fines
Many fines under the Alcohol and Gaming Regulation Act have been increased.  Click here (PDF) for a complete list of the new fines.  The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) is also discontinuing its practice of issuing a warning letter for a first offence relating to issues of public safety such as over serving, over crowding and service to minors, and will begin posting permittee sanctions on its website.

Wine recorking
Recorking must now be offered to all restaurant customers, where wine is sold by the bottle.  Permittees are responsible for purchasing their own recorking equipment.  To ensure the customer cannot easily reopen the bottle, it must be recorked using a new cork that is fully inserted into the bottle and flush with the opening of the bottle.

Hours of operation
Mandatory minimum opening hours have been eliminated.  Permittees can now set their own hours of operation within the globally regulated hours of 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.  (12:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. on Sundays) plus the tolerance period.  However, SLGA will still require restaurants with a nightclub endorsement to convert to a nightclub operation by 8:00 p.m.  Permittees are required to clearly display the hours of operation, visible from the outside of the establishment.

Maximum capacity
The cap on maximum capacities for restaurants and nightclubs has been removed.  Instead, maximum capacity for these establishments will be determined using the National Fire Code of Canadastandards, and based on the physical size of the premises.

Lounge capacities have also changed.  While the 100-person capacity has been eliminated, a lounge cannot exceed 50 per cent of the total capacity and floor space of the entire premises.

Patios adjacent to a restaurant may be equal to the restaurant establishment’s floor area, or 125 square meters (1346 square feet), whichever is less.  Consistent with National Fire Code standards, the capacity of the restaurant does not increase with the addition of a patio.  The permit holder must ensure that the total number of persons in the restaurant and on the patio does not exceed the interior posted capacity of the restaurant.

Mandatory service at a table (restaurants only)
The requirement that restaurant permittees can only serve beverage alcohol at a table has been removed.  The requirement that patrons of a restaurant only be served as part of a meal continues.  However, this requirement does not apply to a lounge or a banquet room area.

CRFA continues to work towards more flexible liquor regulations for permittees.  For more information about these recent changes, visit www.slga.gov.sk.ca.