The B.C. government has fined itself for violating its own liquor laws following an undercover youth operation.
A BC Liquor Store on Tillicum Road in Saanich was slapped with the $7,500 fine after it was found to be selling alcohol to minors.
The Liquor Control and Licensing Branch told CTV News the fine came about as a result of an undercover operation through its “Minors as Agents” program.
It’s a government program that employs youth who go undercover to test whether liquor stores are selling to minors.
Even though the government is fining its own liquor store, a branch spokesperson said it fines any business licensed to sell alcohol that isn’t abiding by the law.
BC Liquor Stores issued a statement saying employees are trained to ask anyone who appears 30 years old or younger for their identification.
“In light of this issue, we are reinforcing our expectations with all BC Liquor Store teams in order to prevent this from happening again,” it said.
Any workers caught selling to minors are subject to a formal disciplinary process, it said.
The fine, like all public money other than trust funds, will go into a consolidated revenue fund, according to a government spokesman.
A sign informing customers of the fine will remain displayed at the liquor store until March 19.
