The British Columbia Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) has imposed a $7,000 penalty on Loblaws, after an employee at its South Surrey Real Canadian Superstore sold liquor to a minor.

The fine, which must be paid to the LCRB by April 12, 2024, was ordered in March; LCRB General Manager含羞草研究社檚 Delegate Dianne Flood said the store含羞草研究社檚 含羞草研究社渢raining and systems in relation to prohibiting the sale of liquor to minors are inadequate含羞草研究社� in her decision.

Signs showing that a monetary penalty has been imposed must also be place in a 含羞草研究社減rominent location in the establishment.含羞草研究社�

Loblaws is the first supermarket in the province to be fined for serving alcohol to a minor, a review of past LCRB decisions shows, since B.C. allowed certain types of alcohol to be sold in grocery stores in 2015.

Stemming from a Sept. 14, 2023 visit to the South Surrey Superstore by two LCRB inspectors, Flood described the fine as 含羞草研究社渂eing at the low end of the range含羞草研究社� of penalties that could be imposed, after a minor agent, 16, purchased a bottle of wine without being asked for identification.

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The decision outlines how the minor walked to the section of the store where wine, mead, sake and cider are sold, chose a bottle of wine, and took it to the checkout, where he was directed to a different till. The cashier there scanned the wine, told the minor agent the price, and he paid with a $20 bill.

含羞草研究社淎t no time did the cashier ask the minor agent for identification. If asked for identification, minor agents are trained not to attempt to deceive the salesperson but to simply respond that they do not have any identification,含羞草研究社� the decision said.

One of the inspectors returned to the store to inform the manager of the alleged infraction and also asked for, and photographed, the cashier含羞草研究社檚 Serving It Right (SIR) certificate.

Loblaws admitted the contravention occurred, but said due diligence had been satisfied, saying the mistake in selling to the minor 含羞草研究社渨as a human error, not a deficiency in training,含羞草研究社� as employees must all earn their SIR certificates and also sign age-restricted sales and store liquor sales policies about requesting identification expectations.

The LCRB 含羞草研究社� and Flood 含羞草研究社� argued that Loblaws含羞草研究社� defence of due diligence did not meet the required standard.

含羞草研究社淚 find the Licensee含羞草研究社檚 training of its cashiers to sell liquor to be insufficient,含羞草研究社� Flood said in her decision. 含羞草研究社淭he sale of liquor is not the same as the sale of milk or bread.含羞草研究社�

She said selling liquor carries additional responsibility, and also found that 含羞草研究社渁ssuming servers can appropriately assess age to be inadequate training,含羞草研究社� and suggested cashiers be given oral quizzes and/or written tests and hands-on training, among additional recommendations.

Black Press Media has reached out to Loblaws for comment.