The McGuinty government today took the first step toward allowing Ontarians to bring a bottle of wine to a licensed restaurant by introducing changes to the Liquor Licence Act."Our proposals would provide both consumers and licensed restaurants with exciting new choices," said Consumer and Business Services Minister Jim Watson. "Bringing your own bottle of wine to a licensed restaurant signals that positive change is happening here in Ontario."
This bill paves the way for Ontarians to bring a bottle of wine to a licensed restaurant. At the same time, the government is planning to allow Ontarians to take home an unfinished bottle of wine that they brought with them or ordered as part of their meal in a participating restaurant. Requirements would be in place to ensure that the bottle be properly resealed before a patron could bring it home.
"These changes are progressive and would enable the industry to better serve its diverse customer base," said Rod Seiling, President of the Greater Toronto Hotel Association.
Participation by licensed restaurants would be voluntary.
Participating licensees would be allowed to determine and charge a corkage fee for providing the Bring Your Own Wine service.
"I´m all for allowing customers the option to bring their own wine into our restaurant for a corkage fee," added Steve Beckta, sommelier-owner of Ottawa´s Beckta Dining and Wine. "The practice allows people to dine out more often and with greater flexibility. Having worked as a sommelier and restaurant manager in New York, I know first-hand that this can be beneficial to both guests and restaurants alike. That is why I am a firm supporter of this initiative."
The Ministry of Consumer and Business Services is also proposing to increase public safety by:allowing the Registrar of Alcohol and Gaming to immediately suspend a liquor licence in the public interest, as in situations where there is a threat to public safety; doubling the minimum fines for offences related to liquor and underage persons. The minimum fine for a licensee would increase from $500 to $1,000, and for a non-licensee from $100 to $200; and creating new offences for failing to leave a premise when required to by a police officer, or for returning to a premise the same day after being asked to leave by a police officer."These liquor licence reforms balanced with strengthened enforcement would represent a coming of age for Ontario," said Watson. "By giving consumers and restaurateurs more choice, and by enacting measures to increase public safety, we are building a strong, safe and prosperous Ontario with a quality of life that is second to none."
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