AGCO proposes 60-day liquor licence suspension to Toronto bar following fatal fall of patron served more than 21 standard drinks

TORONTO, Nov. 5, 2026 /CNW/ -- The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) issued a Notice of Proposal for a 60-day suspension of the liquor sales licence of St. Louis Bar & Grill at 11 St. Clair Avenue West in Toronto. The proposed suspension follows an investigation into the service of alcohol to a patron who later died after falling down a staircase at the establishment.

On April 11, 2026, the patron was served fourteen 23-ounce beers over approximately five-and-a-half hours, the equivalent of over 21 standard drinks. The patron subsequently fell in a stairwell leading to the washroom.

AGCO's investigation concluded that the bar permitted the patron to remain on the premises and continued to serve them alcohol after becoming intoxicated. As a result of its investigation, the AGCO alleges that the licensee contravened the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019 (LLCA) and its regulations by:

• Selling, supplying, or permitting liquor to be sold or supplied to a person who was or appeared to be intoxicated, contrary to section 32 of the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019.
• Permitting intoxication to occur on the licensed premises or in adjacent areas under the exclusive control of the licensee, contrary to subsection 43(1) of Ontario Regulation 746/21 under the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019.

Responsible alcohol service requirements are designed to protect people from harm. Licensed establishments must monitor alcohol service, recognize signs of intoxication, and stop serving alcohol to anyone who is or appears to be intoxicated.

A licensee served with a Notice of Proposal has the right to appeal the Registrar's proposed action within 15 days to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), an adjudicative body that is part of Tribunals Ontario and independent of the AGCO.

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"This tragic loss of life devastates family, friends, and community and underscores why responsible alcohol service matters. Every liquor licensee must monitor service, recognize intoxication, and stop serving when necessary. When licensees fail these obligations and put patrons at risk, the AGCO will take appropriate regulatory action."

– Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar, AGCO

About the AGCO

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is a provincial regulatory agency that oversees the alcohol, cannabis, gaming and horse racing sectors in Ontario. The AGCO is committed to protecting the public interest through a modern, risk-based regulatory framework that emphasizes compliance, integrity and public safety.

SOURCE Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario

Media contact: AGCO Media Relations, [email protected]