14 charged over seizure of 4,400 St. Patrick's Day party beers
Four women and 10 men have been charged in connection to a St. Patrick’s Day party that was pre-emptively busted by Waterloo police, who confiscated 4,400 cans of beers from a Waterloo home prior to the event.
The 14 people were charged with unlawfully keeping liquor for sale and unlawfully offering liquor for sale under Ontario's Liquor Licence Act, police said Friday.
Investigators allege an unofficial student group was planning to sell the brews during a March 17 St. Patrick's Day party, but didn't get a permit.
They say the group was allegedly selling tickets for the event through social media.
Police did not name the accused, but said there is no set penalty fine for these offences. The group will appear in court on May 12.
The group behind the party, Wilfrid Laurier University’s Loyal Order of the Water Buffalo, told CBC after the incident they had thrown St. Patrick’s Day parties for years and always donated the proceeds to charity.
Vince Amodeo, president of the group, said there was no permit for the party because they have never needed one for previous events. Contrary to what police said, Amodeo stated that attendees gave $20 in cash or food as a donation and that the beer was provided as a gratuity to guests.