The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has ruled to suspend the liquor sales license of Moose Winooski’s.  In a release, the AGCO says the suspension will be 30 days.

On June 6th, the ACGO found Moose Winooski’s contravened two subsections of the Liquor License Act.  Since then, lawyers from both sides have been trying to come up with an appropriate sanction.  Lawyers from Moose Winooski’s wanted a seven-day liquor license suspension while the AGCO wanted a 45 day suspension.

On Nov. 23, 2007, Katherine Walpole, at the time a 22-year-old Hamilton resident, entered the Moose Winooski’s restaurant in Kitchener’s Sportsworld area with her friend Kevin Block, then 21.

The two shared four pitchers of beer and then drove away with Walpole in the driver’s seat, over the objections of bar staff who had offered her a cab, threatened to call police and even ran to Walpole’s car to discourage her from driving.

Within a few minutes, the vehicle struck a utility pole on Cherry Blossom Road.

Block was killed in the crash.

Walpole was found to have had almost three times the legal limit of alcohol in her blood.

She pleaded guilty to a charge of impaired driving causing death. She was sentenced to 30 months in prison

In its decision, the AGCO says several factors led to its 30-day suspension:

  • The volume of alcohol served
  • The experience of the restaurant’s servers and manager working (they were all experienced and Smart Serve licensed)
  • The restaurant’s current policies on serving alcohol

In its defence, a dozen (12) community leaders submitted letters of reference of behalf of Moose Winooski’s; among them high ranking politicians, business leaders and heads of local charities.  Lawyers for Moose Winooski’s argued that the restaurant’s standing in the community and lack of Liquor License Act infractions up until the 2007 incident are reasons for a reduced suspension.

The appeal process is not closed at this point.

Moose Winooski’s has seven days to submit proposed suspension dates.  If it doesn’t then set dates could be imposed.  The AGCO says the suspension must fall between 20 and 90 days from August 16th, according its release.