MSU and AGCO reach agreement on incidents at Quarters

The McMaster Students Union (MSU) has completed discussions with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) regarding two separate incidents that took place in the Quarters Restaurant in April 2007.

It is alleged that three guests over two separate evenings were served alcohol while showing signs of intoxication and multiple guests showed signs of intoxication.

Over the course of these discussions, the MSU and AGCO have agreed to a 14-day suspension of the MSU license to serve alcohol in the Quarters establishment. This suspension, the first ever imposed on the MSU, began Feb. 8, 2008.

“The MSU takes seriously its responsibility to provide services that meet the needs of the community, while being firmly committed to ensuring a safe and responsible environment. We believe it is our responsibility to provide these services while working diligently to ensure the safety of our students,” says Ryan Moran, president, MSU.

Moran says several programs to ensure a safe and responsible environment are continuing. These include:

Funding additional McMaster constables and Hamilton Police Services officers on Thursday and Saturday evenings

Maintaining a ratio of one staff person for every 20 patrons (the industry average is one staff person for every 40 patrons)

Extensive staff training that includes the participation of Hamilton Police Services, McMaster Security and industry experts, in addition to mandatory Smart-Serve training

A rigorous sign-in policy that has become the benchmark at other academic institutions within Ontario and Canada.

The use of third party industry advisors to inspect Quarters, in addition to the almost weekly inspections by the regulatory bodies.

Continued operation of the Student Walk Home Attendant Team (SWHAT), a volunteer-based service that provides safe and friendly accompaniment for any member of the McMaster community as they walk home (operates seven days a week during the academic year)

Quarters will remain open during this time. The licence suspension ends Friday, Feb. 22, 2008.

Republish this Article for Free

Republish this Article

We believe in the free flow of information. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivs 2.5 Canada (CC BY-ND 2.5 CA), so you can republish our articles for free, online or in print.

All republished articles must be attributed in the following way and contain links to both the site and original article: “This article was first published on Daily News. Read the original article.”

The McMaster Students Union (MSU) has completed discussions with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) regarding two separate incidents that took place in the Quarters Restaurant in April 2007.<br />
<br />
<p>It is alleged that three guests over two separate evenings were served alcohol while showing signs of intoxication and multiple guests showed signs of intoxication. <br />
<br />
<p>Over the course of these discussions, the MSU and AGCO have agreed to a 14-day suspension of the MSU license to serve alcohol in the Quarters establishment. This suspension, the first ever imposed on the MSU, began Feb. 8, 2008.<br />
<br />
<p>"The MSU takes seriously its responsibility to provide services that meet the needs of the community, while being firmly committed to ensuring a safe and responsible environment.  We believe it is our responsibility to provide these services while working diligently to ensure the safety of our students," says Ryan Moran, president, MSU.<br />
<br />
<p>Moran says several programs to ensure a safe and responsible environment are continuing. These include:<br />
<br />
<p><li>Funding additional McMaster constables and Hamilton Police Services officers on Thursday and Saturday evenings<br />
<p><li>Maintaining a ratio of one staff person for every 20 patrons (the industry average is one staff person for every 40 patrons)<br />
<p><li>Extensive staff training that includes the participation of Hamilton Police Services, McMaster Security and industry experts, in addition to mandatory Smart-Serve training<br />
<p><li>A rigorous sign-in policy that has become the benchmark at other academic institutions within Ontario and Canada. <br />
<p><li>The use of third party industry advisors to inspect Quarters, in addition to the almost weekly inspections by the regulatory bodies.   <br />
<p><li>Continued operation of the Student Walk Home Attendant Team (SWHAT), a volunteer-based service that provides safe and friendly accompaniment for any member of the McMaster community as they walk home (operates seven days a week during the academic year)<br />
<br />
<p>Quarters will remain open during this time. The licence suspension ends Friday, Feb. 22, 2008.<br />

Media Enquiries

Phone: (905) 525-9140 ext. 24073
Email: comms@mcmaster.ca

The Communications and Public Affairs Office is staffed from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

The University has a broadcast quality television studio to facilitate live and pre-recorded interviews with media. Learn more about our experts.