FERGUS – The Goofie Newfie’s liquor licence has been reinstated following a 10-day suspension by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario that left taps dry and the business scrambling to adapt.
Pub owner Rebecca O’Brien said the temporary prohibition halting all alcohol sales “sucked” and was a “scary” experience.
The licence was reinstated on July 25.
“Thankfully we’re back,” O’Brien said by phone.
The operation never really went anywhere though, thanks to support from local residents, she added.
Aside from a brief early closure the day the suspension was ordered, the pub carried on business as usual, even as patrons couldn’t imbibe.
“People were asking what was going on … we just did our best and answered questions as honestly as we could,” O’Brien said.
The alcohol commission, which regulates liquor sales in the province, pulled the pub’s licence on July 15.
It cited the recent conviction in court of Robert O’Brien, who previously worked at the Goofie Newfie and is Rebecca’s spouse.
According to Rebecca, her husband hasn’t worked at the pub since a June 16 verdict found him guilty on two counts of sexual assault against a former Goofie Newfie employee.
The AGCO previously said licence holders are ineligible if the commission believes business cannot be conducted within “the law and with integrity and honesty.”
“The court’s findings provide sufficient evidence to sustain those concerns,” it said, referencing the guilty verdict.
Rebecca told the Advertiser she was able to get Robert’s name removed from the licence and emphasized her husband is no longer involved with the business.
She said the suspension forced the pub to quickly switch to a mocktail menu already in the works, jumping on a growing interest in alcohol-free drinks.
“We’re way more of a restaurant than we are a bar anyways,” she said.
The AGCO told the Advertiser Robert “is no longer permitted to be involved with the liquor licence and is prohibited from being at the premises.”
