Section 3: Liquor Sales Licence Endorsements

Endorsements are add-ons to a Liquor Sales Licence that allow a licensee to sell and serve liquor in certain situations apart from those generally permitted by the licence. A licensee may apply for and hold more than one type of endorsement.

There is no fee for endorsements, with the exception of a Golf Course Endorsement. Endorsements expire at the same time as the licensee’s Liquor Sales Licence.

Caterer’s Endorsement

The holder of a Caterer’s Endorsement may sell and serve liquor at an event held on premises other than the premises to which the liquor sales licence applies. A Special Occasion Permit is not required. The catered event must be sponsored by someone other than the licence holder and not be more than ten (10) days in duration. Liquor cannot be offered for sale at a series of events sponsored by the same person if as a result of doing so, the licence holder is or appears to be operating an ongoing business with the sponsor. Liquor may not be sold at events held in a residence. Liquor not sold during a catered event must be returned to the licence holder’s stock. The licence holder is not permitted to promote or invite persons to attend a catered event where the licence holder is offering liquor for sale. The licence holder is responsible for ensuring compliance with the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019, its regulations and the standards and requirements established by the Registrar. This includes complying with all health, fire and building regulations.

Areas under the exclusive control of the licence holder

If the licence holder has given the AGCO prior notice of its intention to cater events held in areas under the exclusive control of the licence holder (i.e. areas listed on the endorsement application), then notification of individual events is not required.

NOTE: AN AREA MAY BE UNDER THE EXCLUSIVE CONTROL OF THE LICENCE HOLDER IF THE LICENCE HOLDER OWNS, RENTS OR LEASES THE AREA.

Download Caterer’s Endorsement – Premises form.

Areas not under the exclusive control of the licence holder

At least ten (10) days before a catered event begins, the licence holder with a Caterer’s Endorsement must provide the AGCO, the local police, fire, health and building departments with details concerning:

  • The nature of the event and the name of the sponsor
  • The address where the event will be held
  • The dates and hours during which the event will be held
  • The estimated attendance for the event
  • The boundaries of the area where liquor will be sold and served.

Holders of a Brew Pub Endorsement may sell beer they have manufactured at events which are operated under a Caterer’s Endorsement (also see conditions for Brew Pub Endorsements).

Requirements

  1. In addition to advising the AGCO at least ten (10) days prior to the event, the licence holder must also notify the local police, fire, building and health departments at least ten (10) days prior to the event.
  2. The event must be sponsored by a person other than the licence holder.
  3. Post a Sandy’s Law warning sign at the event.
  4. Liquor must be offered for sale and served at the event under the supervision of the licensee or an employee. Anyone involved in the sale and service of liquor must be certified in accordance with the standard on server training. For more information, please refer to the Server Training information provided in this Guide.
  5. Do not cater an event exceeding ten (10) consecutive days in length, operate an ongoing business with a sponsor or promote an event.
  6. Do not sell and serve liquor at an event held in a residence.
  7. The licensee shall ensure that the location of the catered event complies with the requirements for licensed premises.
  8. Failure to comply with the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019, its regulations and the standards and requirements established by the Registrar can result in disciplinary action, including a suspension or revocation of the Liquor Sales Licence.

Room Service Endorsement

The holder of a Room Service Endorsement may sell and serve liquor at a room that is rented as overnight accommodation that is adjacent to the licensed premises.

Brew Pub Endorsement

The holder of a Brew Pub Endorsement may sell and serve beer that is manufactured on the premises by the licensee. The licensee must own and operate both the pub and the manufacturing facilities. The beer must be sold and consumed only in the licensed area, if served for on premises consumption.

Beer manufactured by the holder of a Brew Pub Endorsement shall only be sold, served and consumed in the licensed premises where the draught beer was manufactured and on one premises other than the premises where the beer is manufactured if:

  1. The licence holder has at least a 51% interest in the business carried on at the other premises and a valid Liquor Sales Licence, or
  2. A liquor sales licence applies to the other premises.

Beer manufactured by the licensee may be sold and consumed in accordance with any caterer’s endorsement attached to the licence containing the brew pub endorsement.

The holder of a Brew Pub Endorsement may offer their beer for takeout and delivery if they meet the requirements set out in regulation. It is the endorsement holder’s responsibility to comply with all federal requirements. For more information, contact your nearest Regional Federal Excise Office.

Wine Pub Endorsement

The holder of a Wine Pub Endorsement may sell and serve wine that is manufactured on the premises by the licensee. The licensee must own and operate both the pub and the manufacturing facilities. The wine must be sold and consumed only in the licensed area, if served for on premise consumption.

Wine produced under a Wine Pub Endorsement may only be sold, served or consumed on the premises to which the licence applies. The holder of a Wine Pub Endorsement may offer their wine for takeout and delivery if they meet the eligibility requirements set out in regulation.

Wine Pub Endorsement Testing Contacts

For more information on the testing process, the contact info for LCBO Quality Assurance Laboratory is available on the Key Liquor Industry Contacts page.

Alternatively, you can search for other analytical and testing laboratories that meet the requirements. 

Mini Bar Endorsement

The holder of a Mini Bar Endorsement may sell and serve liquor from a dispenser (mini bar) in a room that is rented as overnight accommodation that is adjacent to the licensed premises. The mini bar must be located in the guest room and must be secured with a key, magnetic card or other device that is separate from the room key.

In addition to liquor, the mini bar must also be stocked with non-alcoholic beverages.

Access to the contents of the mini bar must be controlled by the licensee or be restricted by means of a locking device. Access to the contents of the mini bar must be restricted to those persons that are 19 years of age or older.

Licensees shall retain records of the mini bar sales for one year.

Golf Course Endorsement

The holder of a Golf Course Endorsement may sell and serve liquor to persons on a golf course to consume on the playing area of the golf course. Liquor may be served from mobile vending carts. Non-alcoholic beverages must also be made available.

Any patron who obtained liquor at any licensed area of a golf course is exempted from subsection 42(1) of the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019 while driving or having the care or control of a golf cart on the playing area of a golf course.

Please refer to the AGCO’s Fee Schedule for the applicable fee.

Bring-Your-Own-Wine (BYOW) Endorsement

A Bring-Your-Own-Wine (BYOW) Endorsement authorizes the holder of a Liquor Sales Licence to permit patrons to bring sealed, unopened bottles of commercially-made wine to a restaurant or banquet room for their own consumption.

The licensee or an employee must open the wine, as would be the case if the patron had purchased the wine from the premises.

“Commercially-made wine” means wine made by a manufacturer but does not include wine made at a Ferment on Premise facility, wine made at a premises with a wine pub endorsement, fortified wine as defined in regulation or homemade wine.

The applicant must hold a valid Liquor Sales Licence to apply for a BYOW Endorsement. All rules, regulations and the standards and requirements established by the Registrar regarding the selling and serving of liquor apply. The licensee may not use this endorsement in combination with a caterer’s endorsement that may be attached to the licence.

If the premises ceases to be a “restaurant” or a “banquet room” it ceases to be eligible for a BYOW endorsement, and must inform the Registrar within ten (10) days of the change. Failure to do so could result in administrative action being taken.