Pubdate: Sat, 26 Feb 2005
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: John Duncanson, Staff Reporter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?216 (CN Police)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.)

PEARL LOUNGE LOSES LICENCE FOR 70 DAYS

Inspectors Cite Overcrowding Patrons Found Smoking Pot

Ontario's alcohol and gaming commission has slapped a bar in the 
Entertainment District with one of its stiffest penalties -- ordering the 
Pearl Lounge to stop serving alcohol for 70 days after inspections found 
overcrowding, drunk patrons and people smoking pot in the club.

Short of revoking the licence of the popular Richmond St. W. nightclub, the 
suspension of the club's liquor licence from tomorrow until May is the 
severest penalty the commission can hand down, said spokesperson Ab Campion.

The average penalty the commission issues is between five and 21 days, he said.

In its decision released this week, the commission said:

The club, which has a capacity of 538 people, was found on six occasions 
between December 2003 and October 2004 to have hundreds more people on the 
premises than allowed. On one occasion there were 818 patrons in the Pearl 
Lounge, the commission said.

Inspections found drunk people consuming liquor in the club, and that on 
Dec. 11, 2004 people were "openly smoking marijuana" inside the nightclub.

On numerous occasions light meals and liquor menus weren't available even 
though the law requires it.

The nightclub, which had its licence revoked for 30 days in 2003 for 
similar infractions, is open only on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Randall Barrs, the lawyer representing the bar, said the owners will use 
the suspension period to carry out renovations and hire better security staff.

In one instance, the commission said, security staff chased two patrons out 
of the bar and assaulted them.

In another case a baton was used on a patron.

When it reopens, Barrs said, the owners will try to have the liquor licence 
changed to allow more patrons in the club.

"There has to be physical changes made at the facility to do that so that 
(overcrowding) doesn't become a recurring problem," Barrs said.

The commission has also ordered the Pearl Lounge to hire bonded security 
guards and install video cameras at the exit and entrance to the club.

Each day's video must be kept for a month, the commission said.

The Entertainment District has been the subject of ongoing problems with 
overcrowding, unruly patrons, and in some cases, drug use.

Earlier this year it was the focus of allegations of police corruption 
involving the alleged shakedown of bar owners by certain officers.

Investigators have laid both criminal and police act charges against 
several officers, some of whom once patrolled the district.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager