Legal Question

DukeofYork = Richard · Mon Mar 08, 2004 12:00 am

I suppose I could go find this out on my own, but I figured I'd ask first before I spent hours drenging the internet. Is it legal, in Ontario, to bring alcohol (in this case, obviously, beer) into an UNlicensed establishment? I know it probably is, but I'd actually like to know which law this falls under, since it's the Liquor License act that prohibits it in licensed restaurants.

GregClow · Post by **GregClow** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 9:41 am

There are a few unlicensed restaurants that gladly allow customers to bring their own bottles (usually wine), although they generally charge a "corkage fee" for the privledge. And as far as I've seen they're generally up-front about the practice, suggesting that it is perfectly legal.

Try checking the Alcohol & Gaming Commission website - http://www.agco.on.ca/ - there may be more information there.

Josh Oakes · Post by **Josh Oakes** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 10:34 am

From the sounds of this article, it doesn't seem legal. As for the whinings of the industry rep, it's pretty obvious he's trying to protect his constituents from having to either a) improve selection; b) face competition from non-licensed establishments and c)loss of revenues when corkage fees don't measure up to what they charges for their wines. But anyway, here's the piece:

http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/sto ... g+your+own

GregClow · Post by **GregClow** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 10:37 am

Huh. I guess I was mistaken about local restaurants doing the BYOB thing. I could've sworn that I'd read about it being done in several places around town, but I guess not.

Lubiere · Post by **Lubiere** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 1:01 pm

In Quebec, BYOB restaurants have a cheaper licence for serving (vs a licence to sell) permitting clients to bring their own wines, especially greek restaurants. Its very rare to see corkage fees.

Cass · Post by **Cass** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 1:36 pm

I believe it is OK to bring your own wine as long as the establishment is unlicensed.

For example, Eigensinn Farm;
http://www.torontolife.com/cityguide/li ... ing_id=153

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Cass on 2004-03-08 13:37 ]</font>

DukeofYork = Richard · Mon Mar 08, 2004 1:39 pm

It looks like its possible ... according to the last post. Which means I have to start looking around for unlicensed places to try this. There used to be an Indian place on Yonge that was nice and unlicensed.

PRMason · Post by **PRMason** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 8:41 pm

There was a piece in the news today about this. It seems the provincial gov't wants to allow people to bring their own wine into a restaurant. They also want to let people re-cork a wine purchased at a restaurant so they can take it home. The legality of doing either thing right now is questionable.

Gunny · Post by **Gunny** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 8:51 pm

How is this remotely a hot button issue? The Fiberals have far larger fish to fry right now. Don't even get me started on the exclusionary and, in my estimation, elitist nature of this subject.

JerCraigs · Post by **JerCraigs** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 11:00 pm

On 2004-03-08 20:51, Gunny wrote:
How is this remotely a hot button issue? The Fiberals have far larger fish to fry right now. Don't even get me started on the exclusionary and, in my estimation, elitist nature of this subject.

I'm curious where you are going with that.

esprit · Post by **esprit** » Tue Mar 09, 2004 5:26 pm

In case it has not yet been established in this thread, rest assured that it is not legal to bring alcoholic beverages into a restaurant in the province of Ontario whether it is licensed or not.

Rubaiyat · Post by **Rubaiyat** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 10:48 am

I second that.

And the problem still doesn't lie with the licensees (restaurants et al), it's with the fact the LCBO is the ONLY importer of EVERY beverage alcohol in Ontario. Even the imported stuff one find at the Beer Store. THEREIN lies the real problem.

Josh Oakes · Post by **Josh Oakes** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 12:52 pm

On 2004-03-10 10:48, Rubaiyat wrote:
I second that.

And the problem still doesn't lie with the licensees (restaurants et al), it's with the fact the LCBO is the ONLY importer of EVERY beverage alcohol in Ontario. Even the imported stuff one find at the Beer Store. THEREIN lies the real problem.

It is a big part of the problem and removing that part of the equation would largely negate any benefit to the consumer that BYO would have. People right now don't like that they pay 100% or more markups for the exact same product. That fuels consumer desire for BYO. Make life easier for everybody and blow up the LCBO.

Rubaiyat · Post by **Rubaiyat** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 2:43 pm

Not sure if you're agreeing with me or disagreeing ..

Confusing since both the LCBO and Licensees - as it stands now - are BOTH guilty of 100%+ markups effectively.