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In B.C., liquor products sold by bars and restaurants have to be bought through the Liquor Distribution Branch and recorded in a liquor register. But the branch only distributes Scotch Malt Whisky Society products to private stores, so they are not available for bars and restaurants from the branch.

It’s not been hidden. We’ve been a Scotch Malt Whisky partner bar for six years now

In an emailed statement, the Ministry of Attorney General said the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch can’t comment on “compliance measures” or release private information about any licensee.

“The LCLB operates independently in terms of the general manager’s supervision of licensees, and enforcement decisions cannot be directed by the attorney-general,” the statement said.

Eric Fergie said Fets was “kind of playing on the edge of the sandbox” by carrying the whisky. He said they anticipated changes in liquor policy to allow them to obtain some products through private stores.

“Maybe we jumped the gun a bit but, you know, they never enforced it and the liquor inspector has been in our place a couple times a year” without raising a concern, he said.

The Fergies said they haven’t been contacted by the liquor inspectors since the raid and are unsure whether there will be fines. Both said they believe it was “heavy-handed,” particularly considering it was the first enforcement action. They wish there had been a warning or conversation first.

“It’s not been hidden. We’ve been a Scotch Malt Whisky partner bar for six years now. Numerous liquor inspectors over those six years have been in our place and not once were we ever told that that was a no-no,” Allura Fergie said.