Ontario’s alcohol regulator is moving to suspend a Toronto nightclub’s liquor licence for two months after a 19-year-old man was discovered dead inside the establishment last spring.
In a news release Wednesday, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) says it has issued a notice of proposal to Mister Wolf, a nightlife and event space on Queen Street West, for a 60-day liquor sales licence suspension.
The 19-year-old man was at the nightclub on May 25, 2024, and served three large bottles of alcohol while seated in a VIP area, the AGCO said in the news release.
The regulator said its investigation revealed that the patron showed visible signs of intoxication that night, including stumbling, losing his balance and getting into physical fights with other patrons.
At no point did the bar’s security or staff intervene in any way, the regulator said.
At around 1 a.m., the patron went up a stairwell that was supposed to be sectioned off. He was found dead there the following afternoon, AGCO said in the release.
A toxicology analysis found the man had a blood alcohol content of more than twice the legal driving limit.
Based on the investigation, the regulator believes that Mister Wolf staff knew or ought to have known that the patron was showing clear signs of intoxication, and that it failed to intervene as required by law under the province’s Liquor Licence and Control Act.
Under the act, liquor licence holders must ensure their customers are not served to intoxication or permit intoxication on their premises. It is also the responsibility of all licensees to ensure their staff are properly trained to recognize the signs of intoxication.
CBC Toronto has reached out to Mister Wolf for comment.