Ontario Police Launch New Liquor Licence Inspection and Enforcement Program

TORONTO, Aug. 23, 2012 /CNW/ - The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) today announced a new province-wide liquor licence inspection/enforcement program. The   Community Alcohol Safety and Enforcement Program (C.A.S.E.) will seek to heighten public awareness of public safety issues involved in Liquor Licence Act licence inspections/enforcement and licensee understanding of the roles and responsibilities in the sale, service, and consumption of alcohol in licensed establishments.

C.A.S.E. brings together Ontario police services in two one-week blitzes that will complement the on-going efforts by police and the AGCO to ensure licensed establishments adhere to their Liquor Licence Act licence requirements. The program will coincide with the patio and boating season in the spring, as well as the return to school of college and university students in the fall.

"Ensuring licensed establishments operate in a legal and safe manner is critical to creating safe environments and promoting community safety," said Inspector Lee Weare (Peel Regional Police), Chair of the OACP Alcohol and Gaming Committee. "Police services already work closely with the AGCO year round. We will be looking for such infractions as serving minors and permitting disorderly behaviour - things that put public safety at risk in licensed establishments."

Key components of C.A.S.E. include:

• Promoting public safety and enjoyable licensed establishments;
• Heightened inspection and enforcement activities by uniform officers;
• Focusing inspections and enforcement on five key areas (1) serving a minor, (2) intoxication, (3) permitting disorderly behaviour on premise, (4) overcrowding, and (5) after hours service;
• Ensuring reporting by police of any and all enforcement and relevant information in a timely manner to the AGCO; and
• Promoting accountability by all licence holders to operate in a legal and safe manner.

In the coming weeks, police services across Ontario will be conducting inspections and enforcement in the lead-up to back-to-school.

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SOURCE: Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police

Joe Couto
Director of Government Relations & Communications
T. [phone] ext. 22
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