SOURIS — There will be no teen dances at the Black Rafter Lounge in Souris for at least the next several months due to the consumption of alcohol by minors at a dance in November.
The P.E.I. Liquor Control Commission directed the lounge not to host any further teen dances for a six-month period after two liquor commission inspectors attending a dance Nov. 11 saw minors under the influence of alcohol both inside and outside the facility.
James MacLeod, director of corporate services for the Liquor Control Commission, said any establishment hosting a youth dance is prohibited from admitting intoxicated youths or allowing intoxicated youths to hang around outside.
“They also found liquor bottles inside the lounge, so some of those youths found a way to smuggle alcohol in,” MacLeod said.
MacLeod noted this is not a suspension issue.
“To host a teen dance at a licensed establishment someone has to contact the Liquor Control Commission and request permission. I review that request and decide whether to grant permission.”
MacLeod said hosting teen dances in licensed establishments is not something that happens a lot in P.E.I.
And in those instances where permission is granted to host a teen dance, there are a number of specific conditions set out in provincial legislation that must be followed.
MacLeod said they will not entertain any requests for teen dances from the Black Rafter Lounge for six months from the date of the directive issued to that establishment.
But it may be a moot point.
Jackie Aitken, a co-owner of the lounge, said they had already decided to stop hosting teen dances for personal reasons.
The liquor licence of the Black Rafter Lounge is not affected by this directive.
David, Read the storey.....The bar did not serve booze to the kids, the kids snuck it in and came in drunk already. Sorry to say kids are going to find away to drink and this is nothing new. Get off your high horse, maybe the could just find an alley to drugs in. Would that make you feel better????