AGCO proposes 60-day suspension for Toronto bar after fatal patron fall

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) issued a Notice of Proposal on 5 November 2026 seeking a 60-day suspension of St. Louis Bar & Grill’s liquor sales licence for its premises at 11 St. Clair Avenue West, Toronto. The proposal follows an investigation into a patron who was served 14 23-ounce beers on 11 April 2026, over approximately five-and-a-half hours, and later died after falling in a staircase leading to the washroom.

For licensed establishments, the case makes the operational duty clear: staff must monitor alcohol service, recognise intoxication and stop serving anyone who is or appears to be intoxicated. The AGCO investigation concluded that the bar allowed the patron to remain on the premises and continued serving alcohol after the patron became intoxicated.

What the AGCO alleges

The AGCO alleges that the licensee breached section 32 of Ontario’s *Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019* by selling, supplying or permitting liquor to be supplied to a person who was or appeared to be intoxicated.

It also alleges a breach of subsection 43(1) of Ontario Regulation 746/21, which prohibits permitting intoxication to occur on licensed premises or in adjacent areas under the licensee’s exclusive control.

The 14 beers were equivalent to more than 21 standard drinks. The AGCO says responsible alcohol-service requirements are intended to protect people from harm, and that failure to meet those obligations can lead to regulatory action.

The proposal is not a final finding or suspension. Dr Karin Schnarr, the AGCO’s chief executive and Registrar, said the death “underscores why responsible alcohol service matters” and that the regulator would act when licensees fail those obligations and put patrons at risk.

Appeal rights

A licensee served with a Notice of Proposal may appeal the Registrar’s proposed action to the Licence Appeal Tribunal within 15 days. The LAT is part of Tribunals Ontario and is independent of the AGCO.