A Toronto nightclub could have its liquor license suspended after a 19-year-old man died while drinking at the establishment last May, according to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
The AGCO said Wednesday that on May 24, 2024, the man was with a group inside the VIP area when they were served three large bottles of alcohol.
After a few hours of drinking, the man “stumbled, staggered, lost his balance, engaged in physical altercations with other customers and showed visible signs of intoxication,” according to the AGCO.
The agency said no bar employees intervened and that at 1 a.m. on May 25, the man walked up a flight of stairs to an area of the bar that had been cordoned off. Her body was found later that afternoon in the stairwell.
“A toxicological analysis confirmed a blood alcohol level greater than twice the legal driving limit under the Criminal Code of Canada,” said a press release from the AGCO.
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“Staff at the licensed establishment knew or should have known that the victim showed obvious signs of intoxication and failed to intervene as required.”
The agency says it has issued a notice of proposal for a 60-day license suspension for Mister Wolf, which is located on Queen Street near Portland Avenue.
“This tragic incident is a stark reminder of the critical responsibility that licensees must prioritize the safety of their customers,” said Karin Schnarr, CEO of AGCO.
“We are confident that a 60-day suspension of its liquor license will motivate this licensee to take all necessary measures to ensure responsible service and the safety of its customers. The AGCO will certainly be closely monitoring what happens.
The AGCO says it worked with Toronto police in its investigation into the incident, noting that the department also laid separate charges in this regard.
A Toronto police spokesperson told Global News that charges were laid under the Liquor License Control Act against the owner on July 4, 2024 as well as against a numbering company that was doing business with Mister Wolf about a month later.