'We're all out of work': Trapper John's owner says suspension could have been avoided
A St. John's bar owner is bracing to miss out on two of the most prosperous events of the winter, and he says it's all because of an undercover liquor inspection that went beyond what was necessary.
"How many people are going to come to my door looking to be screeched in during the Brier?" said Terry Gulliver, owner of Trapper John's on George Street.
"Losing all that business, and that's followed immediately by [St.] Paddy's [Day] weekend — one of the best weekends of the year."
Last week, the Newfoundland Liquor Corporation confirmed the bar had its licence temporarily suspended after being found responsible for 17 infractions of the Liquor Control Act.
Those violations included smoking on the premises and selling alcohol after hours.
After 32 years as a mainstay on the George Street strip, the place now sits empty.
"We're all out of work, for six weeks, with no income," said Gulliver.
Inside the bar, the beer taps have been wrapped with NLC tape and the coolers are bare — and it will stay that way for six weeks.
"There were violations that took place within this bar, within this building, and I can't dispute those," he said.
'I had to accept responsibility'
But Gulliver said all but two of the violations happened at a bar called Levels that operated above Trapper John's.
"According to the corporation, because I extended my licence from Trapper John's to the bar above me ... I had to accept the responsibility."
Extending the licence allowed the bars to open a door between the two floors, and increased the capacity for Levels.
Gulliver had no idea the Liquor Control Act was being violated upstairs, he said.
"These infractions were not discovered by the normal, regular liquor inspectors that we see all the time. The corporation hired two young fellas — 21 [and] 20 years old — deputized them and made them undercover inspectors."
Gulliver said the two men visited Trapper John's and Levels undercover several times in July.
"The first violations occurred on July 8 and I was not informed until Aug. 24," he said.
Majority of inspections scheduled, NLC says
Had he been notified of any infraction, Gulliver said he would have removed his name from the liquor licence at Levels.
"Why didn't the liquor inspectors come here immediately and say, 'Terry, we got two young fellas undercover and last night on a Friday night the bar wasn't closed on time, they were still serving alcohol past three o'clock. I was never given the opportunity to put a stop to it.'"
According to Greg Gill, representative for the NLC, the vast majority of inspections are scheduled, with licensees knowing in advance of the meeting and what items will be addressed.
Several factors come into play when the NLC decides to do a surprise inspection, he said, including "a review of the licensee's risk rating based on previous infractions, whether NLC has received a formal complaint or if NLC has received specific information that would lead to an investigation."
As for the undercover inspectors, Gill said the NLC won't comment on the specifics of an inspection.
Gill said Trapper John's has been sanctioned in the past, but could not say how many violations there were.
In an effort to lessen the blow, Gulliver said he contacted the NLC to see if the suspension could be broken up, but was told it had to be consecutive weeks.
He said he fears repercussions for speaking out against the corporation but wanted to have his say.
