Being a By-law to Amend By-law 1119/17, Being a By-law to Establish a Municipal Alcohol Policy
Whereas the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Petawawa wishes to amend the municipal alcohol policy as adopted by By-law 1119/17;
Now Therefore be it enacted by the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Petawawa as follows:
That the “Town of Petawawa Municipal Alcohol Policy” attached hereto as Schedule “A” be and is hereby adopted.
That Schedule “A” is deemed to form part of this by-law and replaces the Schedule “A” adopted by By-law 1119/17.
This by-law shall come into force and take effect following third reading.
By-law read a first and second time this 17th day of June 2024.
By-law read a third time and passed this 17th day of June 2024.
(Signatures)
Signature of the Mayor
Signature of the Clerk
Schedule “A” to By-law 1667/24
Municipal Alcohol Policy June 2024
(Town of Petawawa Seal) TOWN OF PETAWAWA 1865
The Corporation of the Town of Petawawa
Community Services Department
PURPOSE: To provide a policy and guidelines to direct the responsible management of alcohol consumption in and on municipally owned and controlled facilities.
SCOPE: The Town of Petawawa is the holder of a licence to sell liquor under the Liquor Licence Act of Ontario. The Town also holds a Licence “Catering” endorsement which permits the Licence holder to operate bars at events in locations other than those areas which are specified on the Licence, as long as the event is not sponsored by the Licence holder.
The areas covered by the Licence are outlined in Regulation 2, on page 5 of this document. There are occasions in which the Town deems it appropriate to serve alcohol in areas other than the specified locations.
Service of alcohol is performed by the Petawawa Civic Centre Fundraising Committee, a registered charity whose objects are to raise funds to support the capital needs of the Civic Centre as well as community festivals held at the Civic Centre. Service is also performed by others who rent Town Facilities for a variety of functions. Some events are covered by the Town Liquor Licence; others are operated under a Special Occasion Permit issued by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario in the name of the event sponsor.
The Town of Petawawa is required to manage the use of alcohol in all facilities owned and operated by the Town in a manner that ensures the health and safety of all participants and the protection of facilities, and which will mitigate any potential liability as a result of alcohol use on Town property.
OBJECTIVES:
To create a safe and reasonable alcohol environment at Town facilities for users and staff in order to enhance enjoyment of events and amenities by consumers, abstainers, adults, youth and families;
To protect the public and staff against bodily injury and property damage caused by alcohol use or abuse;
To provide appropriate procedures and education to ensure that all Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario legislation pertaining to liquor licences is properly understood and complied with;
To provide Users and Staff with Municipal guidelines and prevention tools aimed at reducing the potential of alcohol related incidents;
To reduce the Town’s and Event Sponsors’ exposure to legal liability which could result from the improper operation of a licensed event or the abuse of responsible consumption; and
To encourage and reinforce responsible moderate, low risk drinking practices through the employment of appropriate operational procedures, controls, training and education.
DEFINITIONS In this policy document the following definitions shall apply:
Alcohol: Spirits, wine or beer or any combination thereof and includes any product of fermentation or distillation in a form appropriate for human consumption as a beverage and which is controlled by the Liquor Licence Act of Ontario.
A.G.C.O: The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario is responsible for administering the Liquor Licence Act that covers most aspects of Ontario’s beverage alcohol laws. These laws provide the regulatory requirements for responsible sale and service of beverage alcohol in the province. For more information – www.agco.on.ca. Specific SOP information can be found at www.agco.on.ca/en/whatwedo/permit_special
Designate: A person(s) appointed by the Sponsor, and acceptable to the Town, who is over the age of 18 and who has satisfactorily proven to the Sponsor that (s)he will act in accordance with the Municipal Alcohol Policy.
Facility Representative: City Official or designate having operational jurisdiction over a Town premise.
Good Standing: A person in good standing is one who has no prior unresolved issue of non-compliance to the Town of Petawawa Municipal Alcohol Policy or related Town of Petawawa By-laws, Policies and Procedures, Terms and Conditions and Standards, and who operates in compliance with the Liquor Licence Act.
M.A.P: Municipal Alcohol Policy for the Town of Petawawa.
Monitor: A paid or volunteer person appointed by the Sponsor to observe the progress of an event to ensure compliance of all applicable regulations. This person must be over the age of 18 years.
Policy: A policy under the Municipal Alcohol Policy.
Premises: All Town of Petawawa owned or leased lands, buildings, and structures, or any of them.
S.O.P: A Special Occasion Permit issued by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario to permit serving of alcohol in an otherwise un-licensed area.
Sponsor: Any person seeking to hold an event involving the serving or consumption of alcohol on Town premises.
Town: The Corporation of the Town of Petawawa and all its agents.
Trained Server: A paid or volunteer person who is over the age of 18 and has successfully completed a recognized alcohol server training course such as Smart Serve or Server Intervention Program.
REGULATIONS
REG. 1: Liquor Events and Service Authorization All events selling or serving alcohol on municipally owned and controlled facilities must be under the authority of the Town’s Liquor License or a Special Occasion Permit (S.O.P.) issued by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. The Town operates a bar service under the auspices of its liquor license. The Petawawa Civic Centre Fundraising Committee provides bar operation services on behalf of the Town. Proceeds generated through the sale of alcohol by the Petawawa Civic Centre Fundraising Committee are used to support the capital needs of the Petawawa Civic Centre as well as community festivals held at the Civic Centre. Event organizers wishing to utilize this service must notify the Town at time of booking. The Town of Petawawa highly recommends the use of the Town’s bar service for events that will incorporate the sale of beverage alcohol.
Sponsors wishing to operate their own bar service at their event must do so through a Special Occasion Permit (S.O.P.) and must follow all applicable regulations of the Municipal Alcohol Policy, the Terms and Conditions contained within their Facility Rental Agreement and the Liquor License Act of Ontario. Sponsors wishing to operate their own bar must notify the Town at time of booking.
Types of S.O.P.’s include:
Private Event SOP’s: For events where only invited guests will attend. These events cannot be advertised and there can be no intent to gain or profit from the sale of alcohol at the event. Examples include a wedding reception, an anniversary party, baptism or birthday party, among others, where only family, friends and people known to the hosts or permit holders are invited to attend.
Public Event SOP’s: For events that are open to the public. Public events can be advertised and allow for fundraising/profit from the sale of alcohol. A Public Event SOP can be issued:
To a registered charity under the Income Tax Act (Canada);
* To a non-profit organization or association organized to promote charitable, educational, religious or community objects;
* For an event of provincial, national or international significance; or
* For an event designated by a municipal council as an event of municipal significance.
Industry Promotional Event SOP’s: For events held to promote a manufacturer’s product(s) through sampling. There can be no intent to gain or profit from the sale of alcohol at the event.
REG. 2: Facilities and Areas Licensed The following facilities / areas are licensed under the Town’s liquor licence when operating a function sponsored by the Town or when the bar is operated by Town employees or Town sanctioned volunteers such as the Petawawa Civic Centre Fundraising Committee:
Civic Centre Main Hall.
Civic Centre Fundraising Lounge.
Civic Centre Park Kin Hut.
REG. 3: Additional areas licensed (Caterer’s Endorsement) The remainder of the Petawawa Civic Centre is licensed under a Caterer’s Endorsement to the Liquor Licence. The Caterer’s endorsement enables the use of un-licensed areas of the Civic Centre property for events where alcohol may be served. Such events must be sponsored by a person other than the Town of Petawawa, must not be a continuing event of more than ten consecutive days, and must comply with all applicable conditions of the Municipal Alcohol Policy. Any event operated under the Caterer’s Endorsement must be staffed by employees of the Town, including volunteers of the Petawawa Civic Centre Fundraising Committee Inc.
REG. 4: Town Facilities Not Licensed Town of Petawawa property assets other than the Petawawa Civic Centre are covered by the Town Liquor Licence Caterer’s endorsement. If there is a desire to hold an event where alcohol is to be served, then the sponsor must make arrangements through the Community Services Department.
REG. 5: Town Facilities Suitable for Licensed Functions (S.O.P.) The following Town facilities are suitable for licensed functions under a S.O.P.:
The remainder of Schedule “A” (Municipal Alcohol Policy) details the regulations for alcohol consumption, safety protocols, and staffing requirements.
Key Regulations (Regs 6–21):
Prohibited Areas: Alcohol is prohibited in dressing rooms, spectator seating, playgrounds, fire halls, and public works buildings .
Youth: Minors are prohibited from adult events with alcohol unless supervised by a parent/guardian .
Signage: Mandatory signage includes intoxication warnings, R.I.D.E. awareness, accountability contacts, and Sandy’s Law (pregnancy warning) .
Server Training: All servers, including volunteers, must be Smart Serve certified .
Consumption Limits:
Max 6 tickets purchased at one time.
Max 2 drinks served at one time.
No multi-serving drinks (e.g., doubles).
Pitchers are allowed only at table service .
Safe Transportation: Sponsors must promote designated drivers (providing them with cheaper non-alcoholic drinks), post taxi numbers, and take responsibility for intoxicated guests .
Security & Insurance:
Security staffing is determined by the Director of Community Services.
Sponsors must carry $5 million liability insurance naming the Town as additional insured .
Timelines: Bar service must cease by 1:00 a.m. (indoor) or 12:00 a.m. (outdoor). Facilities must be vacated by 2:00 a.m. (indoor) or 1:00 a.m. (outdoor) .
Appendices:
Appendix I: Rules for conduct during events, including mandatory ID checks, prohibition of server drinking, and enforcement of “no last call” announcements .
Appendix II: Minimum staffing ratios for bartenders, floor monitors, and door supervisors based on participant numbers (e.g., 2 bartenders for up to 200 participants in the Banquet Hall) .
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