Liquor license suspended at popular Toronto bar following fatal shooting
Posted July 29, 2022 2:06 pm.
Last Updated July 29, 2022 7:31 pm.
A Toronto nightclub that was the scene of a double shooting earlier this month has had its liquor license suspended by the province.
A 26-year-old man was killed, and a 24-year-old woman was seriously wounded after gunshots rang out at EFS Social Club on King Street West, east of Bathurst Street, in the early morning hours of July 17.
Pardeep Brar of Brampton was pronounced dead in hospital while the woman was treated for her injuries and has since been released.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) says it has immediately suspended the club’s license for allegedly breaching a condition of its liquor licence.
According to the AGCO, the club was required to ensure “that every entrance to the premises during operating hours is staffed with at least one security person equipped with a metal detector and that the device is used on every person entering the facility, with no exception.”
It says after viewing video surveillance from the night in question, it has reason to believe that a metal detector was not being used on every person entering the facility.
Under the Liquor Licence and Control Act (LLCA), establishments can face fines, a temporary suspension of their licence, or in the most serious cases, a revocation of the licence for failure to meet the requirements listed.
“Those who hold liquor licences in Ontario are required to operate with honesty and integrity. In the public interest, they also must fulfill the obligations under the LLCA and the conditions on their licence,” said AGCO CEO Tom Mungham.
“But in cases that involve a significant breach impacting the public interest, the AGCO will take strong regulatory action to protect the public.”
Police are continuing to investigate the shooting but have yet to publicly release any suspect information.
