Alcohol license of Vancouver nightclub Levels suspended for 7 days

A nightclub near Granville Street in downtown Vancouver lost its liquor license after exceeding its capacity limits last New Year’s Eve.

According to a decision by the provincial regulatory authority, Levels Nightclub will not be allowed to serve alcohol for seven days between July 6 and 14 after the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch said a fine would not be sufficient punishment.

Court documents show that the Levels nightclub was 57 percent overcrowded.

“This average resulted in a total occupancy of 705, exceeding the 449 occupancy limit permitted by the license for the entire facility,” the documents state.

It states that two inspectors arrived along with two VPD officers who were told there were 420 people in the building. However, after observing the people “shoulder to shoulder” with restricted movement and doing their count, the inspectors came to a different conclusion.

According to the documents, the club’s managers were told that once overcapacity was identified, no one would be allowed in and people would have to be thrown out.

“That no further persons have been permitted entry to the establishment and that the licensee’s security personnel are taking immediate steps to remove 256 guests from the establishment,” it said.

People queuing outside the nightclub got into a “confrontation” when licensing staff told them they would not be allowed in, after which a police officer had to call for additional officers to assist and get these people under control.

The suspension was appropriate, the branch said, because employees were well aware that they had exceeded their capacity limits.

“(It) was a deliberate breach of the capacity restriction under the licence, orchestrated by the former GM and the former head doorman, in the full expectation of the former GM that the premises would be closed as a result of his instruction,” it said.

During the closure period, the nightclub must display signs informing the public of the seven-day closure period. These must be displayed in a “conspicuous location” within the premises. The nightclub must also have an Alcohol and Cannabis Regulatory Authority inspector or police officer on site during the closure period.

– With files from Angelyna Mintz.