A popular downtown Toronto nightclub could lose its liquor licence for 60 days, following the death of a 19-year-old patron inside the institution last year.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) announced in a Thursday news release that it is issuing a notice of proposal for the suspension of Mister Wolf’s liquor licence.
In May 2024, the body of a 19-year-old male was found inside the popular late night spot on Queen Street West.
According to the AGCO’s review of the incident, a patron was seated in the nightclub’s VIP area where they were served three large bottles of liquor and consumed a considerable amount of alcohol throughout the night.
“The patron began repeatedly stumbling, staggering, losing his balance, engaging in physical altercations with other patrons, and exhibiting visible signs of intoxication,” the release says, adding that Mister Wolf staff, including security personnel, failed to intervene.
Shortly after 1:00 a.m. the patron entered an out of bounds stairwell, where he was discovered deceased the following afternoon, the AGCO says.
A toxicology report found the patron’s blood alcohol content to be twice the legal driving limit, which is 0.08 per cent, or 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.
The AGCO says Mister Wolf breached the terms of its licence by “permitting intoxication to occur.”
“Staff at the licensed establishment knew or ought to have known that the deceased was exhibiting clear signs of intoxication and failed to intervene as required.” the commission stated.
In a statement to Now Toronto on Thursday, the nightclub said the incident remains an ongoing investigation and that it “continues to work tirelessly with all the local authorities to ensure a resolution.”
“As always, the safety, security and privacy of our patrons are of utmost importance to us. Our thoughts are with the loved ones of the deceased and we extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to them,” Mister Wolf concluded.
Toronto police say no criminal charges have been laid in the investigation but that on Jul. 4, 2024 it charged the business owner under the Liquor Licence and Control Act (LLCA) with Selling liquor to intoxicated person, Permitting intoxication on licensed premises, and Permitting disorderly conduct on licensed premises, among other violations. Police also laid the same charges against the business itself on Aug. 13, 2024.
