An SOP is required for the sale and service of beverage alcohol at special occasions such as weddings, charity fundraisers, receptions, etc. SOPs are issued through select Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) stores throughout the province. A permit is needed any time liquor is offered for sale or served anywhere other than in a licensed establishment or a private place or a residence, and may include common areas of multiple unit residential buildings. It is unnecessary to obtain an SOP if an event is already being conducted under the authority of a caterer´s endorsement.

The ability to apply for and pick up Special Occasion Permits at more LCBO stores will be offered as of July 1, 2012. Until that time an applicant must apply at a store where the event is taking place or if there is no issuing store, the closest store to where the event is taking place. For a list of LCBO permit issuing stores, please see  LCBO Special Occasion Permit Issuing Stores.

Permit holders are now able to sell and serve alcohol until 2 a.m. If you were issued a permit before June 1, 2011 for an event scheduled after June 1, 2011 but you want to sell/serve until 2 a.m., you must return to the LCBO issuing store and ask them to change the hours on the permit. This is required because by law the hours of the event must be on the permit. LCBO staff will initial the permit and the change of hours, and then notify the AGCO and local police. There is no fee to change the hours on your permit to 2 a.m.

For an SOP event being held on or after June 1, 2011, the rules in effect on June 1, 2011 will apply to your event.

If you are holding an event, where you are inviting members of the public and you wish to serve/sell alcohol, you will require a Public Event SOP. The Public Event category replaces three previous categories of special occasions for which a SOP may be issued: Fundraising Event, Significant Event, and Community Festival.

A Public Event is one which is conducted by a registered charity or not for profit entity or an event of municipal, provincial, national or international significance. To be “municipally significant”, the event must have been so designated by the local municipal council and include a municipal resolution. To be “provincially, nationally or internationally significant”, the Registrar generally requires a municipal resolution.

Any permit holder who was issued a permit prior to June 1 for what is now a Public Event to take place on or after June 1, 2011 can ask the AGCO for an amendment to the permit to add tiered seating or partner with liquor sales licensees. The Registrar will review the request. If approved, conditions might be added to the permit to mitigate any specific risks identified in the review.

There is no additional fee to apply for an amendment to your permit, however, you must ensure that proper notification of these changes (at least 30 days) has been given to municipal and law enforcement authorities, if applicable, in case they have any additional concerns.

In this instance you will need to go to the LCBO store where you submitted your application and fill out a new application. As the application is already in process, any review that might be required will not be delayed and any documentation you have already received such as your municipal resolution and notification letters will continue to be accepted.

Large, outdoor events require detailed planning to ensure smooth operation and public safety. As such, the notification period for outdoor events where 5,000 or more people are expected to attend is changing as of August 2, 2011 to 60 days to allow the municipality (clerk’s office, police, fire and health departments) adequate time for this planning. This includes ensuring that there are sufficient resources (police officers, inspectors, etc.) to attend and monitor the event.

Yes. The 60 day notification period is a requirement for permit applications submitted on and after August 2, 2011 where 5,000 or more people are expected to attend your event.

Between June 1 and August 2, a 30 day notification is required for outdoor Public Events, regardless of how many people are expected to attend.

If you plan to apply for a Public Event SOP between June 1 and August 2 and you expect 5,000 or more people to attend, you should try to provide more than 30 days notice to municipal and law enforcement officials where possible to assist them in the planning process.

As part of the Public Event SOP application process, you will be required to provide a list to the LCBO of the participating liquor sales licensees for the proposed outdoor event. You may also wish to include the agreement(s) required between the SOP holder and the liquor sales licensee(s) as part of the application process.

However, you need to make sure that the AGCO receives the agreement(s) at least 30 days prior to the event for the Registrar's review. Therefore, either build in sufficient extra time when you submit the application to the LCBO, or just forward the agreement directly to the AGCO.

There is no fee for submitting and reviewing the agreement(s).

Yes, provided that the advertising complies with the Registrar’s Advertising Guidelines.

The Registrar of Alcohol and Gaming may assess a monetary penalty against the holder of a Special Occasion Permit for any breaches of the Liquor Licence Act or regulation. If the permit holder wishes to appeal the assessment, he/she may request an appeal before the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT). For more information on requesting an appeal, please visit LAT’s website at www.lat.gov.on.ca

The AGCO is taking a new approach to the issuance and regulation of SOPs called risk-based permitting (RBP), which allows the AGCO to encourage good business practices throughout the industry, enhance public safety and ensure that AGCO resources are focussed where they will make the most difference.

Under risk-based permitting, one or more AGCO Board-approved conditions may be attached to a SOP by the Registrar to help the permit holder to minimize specific risks identified during the assessment process.