Sidetrack off the rails one day for liquor infractions

BY SARA KEDDY

Kings County Register

Berwick’s Sidetrack Beverage Room came out of a hearing into liquor license violations April 1 with a one-day forced closure, which happens today, May 2.

The decision by the provincial Utility and Review Board comes from an incident dating back to August, 2006.

In the early hours of August 19, 2006, the regional inspector visited the Sidetrack, forced to use a side door as he couldn’t get in the front door. A man at the end of the bar consuming a beer was noted “staggering” towards the dance floor. The inspector told the bouncer the individual appeared drunk and should be sent out. The individual did leave, and the inspector watched as “the patron could barely stand and was having great difficulty walking in a straight line.” Once outside, the inspector noticed the individual being confrontational with two RCMP officers, who then arrested him for public drunkenness.

In the decision filed April 7 and available on the UARB’s website, the inspector testified the Sidetrack has since changed staff and operations, closing around 10 p.m. nightly.

The Sidetrack was charged with three violations: serving liquor to an intoxicated person, having an intoxicated person on the premises and lacking care and control of its premises. It was the business’s first offence.The punishment is a one-day suspension of both the lounge and eating establishment licenses, to be served on a Friday within 30 days of the decision. A notice will be posted by the inspector and, while licenses are suspended, the Sidetrack can not operate its video lottery terminals.