Miranda Fox hands a large glass of Jackson Triggs chardonnay to a woman who is having foil and dye applied to her hair. Her salon, Three Small Rooms in Barrie, was granted a liquor license on Dec. 20, and has been selling beer and wine alongside blowouts, cuts and colouring ever since.

Amendments to Ontario’s liquor laws in August that allowed people at outdoor events to move freely between tents carrying alcoholic drinks have also made it easier for other businesses to get liquor licenses.

Three Small Rooms — a definite misnomer for the large expanse of space in a low-lying building of warehouse supply stores — has been granted one of the first licenses since the rules changed.

With its bronze and glass chandeliers and gilt mirrors in front of each station, the salon is one of the city’s most popular. Large floral arrangements sit among towers of Bumble and Bumble hair products as stylists clad in black move about the gleaming space.

“The process was tedious, long and quite frustrating,” says Fox referring to the municipal red tape that is part of the licensing process. “There was definitely a point where I was thinking, ‘This is never going to happen.’ ”

She heard about the changes to the liquor laws at the end of September and applied right away for a fee of $1,055. She sees offering alcohol as part of the pampering that makes a visit to the salon enjoyable. (While many salons, bridal boutiques and spas offer their customers a complimentary glass of wine or champagne, it isn’t legal for a business to serve alcohol without a license.)

Three Small Rooms is the second salon — the first is in Windsor, says Fox — to get such a license. Some 30 other businesses — including golf simulators, grocery stores, movie theatres and spas — have also applied, according to Lisa Murray, a spokesperson for the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.

Before the change, to be eligible for a liquor sales license the business had to be primarily selling food and/or liquor. Applicants must announce their intention in the local newspaper so citizens can lodge concerns with the commission. A salon in Hamilton was denied a license because its City Hall didn’t think it was in the best interests of the community.

Businesses also have to go through a health, fire and safety inspection process and put up a large sign saying they’ve applied for the licence.

Because serving light snacks is a requirement under the liquor laws, Fox has set up a small café in the front foyer with high-top glass tables, couches and a fireplace. Patrons have the option of a caffeinated, carbonated or alcoholic drink and a selection of locally made artisan sandwiches. Salons must also abide by the rules of bars and restaurants, meaning all employees must be certified with Smart Serve to ensure minors aren’t served and patrons don’t get drunk.

Fox, for example, is limiting her clients to one alcoholic beverage per visit. Although the law doesn’t limit the amount of drinks she’s allowed to serve, Fox said the drinks are an added service and not there to get customers intoxicated. It’s a salon, not a bar.

Being able to serve alcohol is more than just a perk for patrons, though. It also provides businesses with new marketing opportunities. Kristen Wood, owner of The Ten Spot beauty bar, in Leslieville and Queen West is a good example.

She was fined $300 for serving alcohol without a license in a 2006 undercover police operation after her salon became known for their martini and manicure events. Appointments were booked months in advance for the popular nights. She also hosted corporate events and bridal and bachelorette parties.

“I actually didn’t know the law because I figured we’re not selling it, we’re only giving one per a person so it shouldn’t be a big deal,” says Wood, who was then 24.

After she paid the fine, she started using special-occasion permits — up to two or three a week. Eventually, the alcohol commission cut her off. As a result, her salon no longer hosts private events because not being able to serve alcohol is a huge deterrent.

Wood hadn’t heard about the amendments before being contacted by the Star recently: “I think (serving alcohol) would be such a huge asset to spas. Everybody wants to do it and tons of people do still do it illegally,” she says.

“I’m literally hanging up the phone and am going to see what we need to do to apply. I am so excited about that, you have no idea. It was a huge impact on our business. Our numbers really did drop.”

But don’t expect every hair salon, spa and nail place you visit to start serving mai tais.

Jeanet Allinson, who owns Jeanet Spa and Salon in Yorkville, is skeptical. “It’s a nice offering for special occasions, but I think outside of that I don’t think it will really build business.”

It wouldn’t work for her clientele, she explains, because many customers come in over their lunch hour and don’t want to drink. She adds that even over the holidays about 80 per cent of her clients declined when she offered a glass of champagne.

In Barrie, however, Fox’s clients have embraced the new service. She poured the first glass of prosecco the day she got the license and has been pouring ever since.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Fox hasn’t yet finalized what she’ll be serving to guests each day. She got the license and went straight to the local LCBO to stock up. She says her mother and co-owner will be finalizing a drink menu in the next few weeks, until then it’s whatever looks good.

“I’m going to have a beer because I can,” said many of her male customers who came in for hair cuts in the last days of December. About half her clients buy a drink. And she predicts a number of husbands who previously waited for their wives in the car will come in for a drink to pass the time.

Fox believes it’s time Canada caught up to the more liberal alcohol laws across the United States and Europe.