Etobicoke bar accused of repeatedly buying alcohol stolen from LCBO

FILE - Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario Investigation and Enforcement Bureau at the Shorelines Casino Thousand Islands in Gananoque, Ont. on Friday, July 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg

The owner and manager of a bar in south Etobicoke, Ont., are accused of repeatedly buying stolen liquor to sell to their patrons and for personal use.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) announced on Tuesday that it has issued a Notice of Proposal to revoke the liquor license of Southside Johnny’s Bar and Grill on Lake Shore Boulevard West, just east of Browns Line.

The regulator said their investigation determined that the “licensee and a manager were repeatedly and knowingly involved in the purchase of stolen liquor for use at their bar, as well as for personal use.”

The AGCO’s investigation, which was conducted with police, found that the liquor was stolen from a nearby LCBO store and that the products were then allegedly stored at the bar.

It is further alleged that the contents of some larger bottles were poured into smaller ones to fit the bar’s dispensing system.

“Purchasing stolen liquor is a serious breach of integrity that not only violates the law but compromises public safety and introduces illegal goods into Ontario’s regulated alcohol market,” Dr. Karin Schnarr, AGCO’s CEO and registrar, said in a statement.

“Ontarians can trust the AGCO to continue holding licensees accountable for complying with all regulatory requirements that help make a safe and responsible marketplace for everyone.”

The AGCO said the bar’s owner can appeal the notice to the Licence Appeal Tribunal within 15 days.