Hamilton banquet hall employees accused of locking doors to prevent AGCO inspection

A Hamilton banquet hall will have its liquor licence suspended for three weeks after employees allegedly locked doors to prevent police and inspectors with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario from entering.

The AGCO says that it was attempting to carry out an inspection at Al-Omara Cafe & Banquet Hall when operators of the business “locked the front doors with patrons inside, preventing them from leaving or inspectors and police from entering.”

The AGCO says that its inspectors eventually gained entre to the premises, at which point they observed a bartended who appeared to be intoxicated and signs of service that had not been removed as required.

“Inspectors requested records to determine whether they had been selling alcohol after hours, but the licensee refused to provide them. The AGCO is also alleging that the licence-holder provided false information to inspectors’ questions. A week later, police were again denied entry, reinforcing the AGCO’s concerns about repeated obstruction,” a news release notes.

In its release, the AGCO alleges that the business contravened six provisions of the Liquor Licence and Control Act.

The AGCO says that its beginning proceedings to suspend the liquor licence held by Al-Omara Cafe & Banquet Hall for a period of 21 days.

The operators of Omara Cafe & Banquet Hall will have up to 15 days to appeal the decision.

“Inspections are essential in allowing regulators and police to verify that a premises is operating safely and in compliance with the law. When inspections are obstructed, authorities may be prevented from identifying risks, including unlawful liquor service. This is unacceptable, and that is why the AGCO is taking action,” the AGCO’s Registrar and Chief Executive Officer Karin Schnarr said in the release.