Alcohol Policy


The Sports and Social Committee has worked hard with management and external legal counsel to arrive at liquor policy for the Island with the key objectives as follows:

  1. Support an environment that enables a sense of community, inclusiveness, spirit and fun;
  2. Provide a respectful environment that supports the safety and security of Members and guests;
  3. Protects the Club, its Liquor License, and its Employees and Members.

The new policy envisions the Island as designated into 3 areas:

  1. Liquor Licensed Areas | Only Club-served alcohol is permitted in the following areas: 
    • Clubhouse
    • Front Lawn (including Rose Garden)
    • Pool Area
    • Event Lawn (north of Bowling Green) 
    • Racing Lawn 
  2. Public Areas: consumption of person alcohol is not permitted 
  3. Private Areas: Members and their guests can consume personal alcohol in the private areas of the Island if all of the following conditions are met:
    1. Alcohol is consumed on a vessel or the immediate docking area (dock or grass);
    2. The vessel is secured to the dock or land;
    3. The vessel has cooking facility;
    4. The vessel has sanitary facility; and
    5. The vessel has permanent sleeping accommodation
Members are reminded, as has always been the case, that if they drink in private areas and the above conditions are not met they are at risk of being personally charged by authorities.


Fencing - Liquor License Areas are separated by a white chain fencing. It is envisioned that the public and private areas will also be demarcated by hedges or similar fencing. See red line on drawing.

Signs - Signs will be posted at the red demarcation line area designating private property where Members and guests only are welcome.

Special Occasion Permits (SOPs)

Special Occasion Permits will not be used in the private area, except for limited circumstances, as they make the private area public again, and subject to inspection by the authorities. When SOPs are in effect, you will see signage on the island and alerts on the website that consumption of personal alcohol is not allowed ashore in private areas.
 

FAQ

A: No. You cannot traverse from a licensed area to another licensed area if it means you have to traverse a public area.
A: Yes. The Clubhouse licensed area and the front lawn licensed area are not separated by any public area and so you can move from the Clubhouse to the Front Lawn and vice versa. 
A: The legislation does not define “immediate” or “adjacent.” It should be fairly close to your boat. You are not permitted to walk beyond the immediate area of your boat with open alcohol. 
A: The legislation does not set this out. However, keep in mind that if your vessel can only accommodate a certain number of people, exceeding that number ashore and drinking can be risky for you. 
A: The boat has to have sleeping accommodation and cooking facility and sanitary facility and be at anchor or docked. All four elements must be present for the drinking to be legal. 
A: No, once an SOP is in place, the private areas of the Club become “public” and no drinking is allowed in the public areas. You can drink on your boat if it meets the requirements of having sleeping accommodation and cooking and sanitary facility. You cannot drink on the adjacent dock or shore. 
A: Every time a Member or Fleet applies for an SOP the following authorities must be notified in advance (30 days recommended) 
  • Toronto Police 
  • Toronto Fire 
  • The Toronto City Clerk’s Office and 
  • Toronto Public Health 
  • The notifications need to reflect date and time of event, how many people will be attending, where the event is (inside or outdoors, if outdoors that it will be roped-off, description of  location, map or link to map) That we have applied for and/or have received a SOP for the event and will operate in accordance with it. 

    In 2016, the volume of SOP applications was questioned by the Fire Marshalls and our Liquor License Inspector.