Loralee’s Hair and Beauty Salon has become the first Timmins salon to become licensed to serve alcohol while their customers are being given new hair styles or hair cuts.
A visit to Loralee’s by TimminsToday.com found the place fully booked, so booked that Loralee Boucher, the owner had only minutes between hair cutting appointments to answer questions.
“Customers will be able to purchase drinks like at any other cash bar,” Boucher said. “They can sip their drink as they wait or while they are being attended to.”
The drink selection is attached on the wall by the reservation desk. The items on sale range from beer to red or white wine. The prices are reasonable and competitive to what local bars charge.
During our visit, none of the three clients were taking advantage of the new liquor sales policy at Loralee’s.
Changes made to Ontario’s liquor laws in August, 2011 allowing people at outdoor festivals more freely carrying alcoholic drinks also simplified the process for other business who want to get liquor licenses.
Steadily, salons across Ontario were applying for licenses and in January, 2012 one opened in Barrie and in Hamilton.
The Government of Ontario made several amendments to Regulation 719 (Licenses to Sell Liquor) and Regulation 389/91 (Special Occasion Permits) under the Liquor Licence Act (LLA). Those changes were introduced in 2011 following extensive consultation with a wide range of liquor industry stakeholders, law enforcement agencies, public health organizations and other interested parties.
The changes were intended to: remove some previous barriers and restrictions for liquor sales licensees; provide flexibility to businesses; improve tourism and local economies; strengthen Ontario’s economy and create new opportunities for jobs, and; expand enforcement options where violations of Ontario’s liquor laws occur.
The regulatory changes affecting liquor sales licensees were being brought into effect in two phases — June 1, 2011 and Aug. 2, 2011.
The regulatory changes affecting the Special Occasion Permit (SOP) program are being introduced in three phases. In the near term these changes take effect on June 1, 2011 and Aug. 2, 2011.
Next door on Second Avenue, at The Working Class; a bar that caters to a younger Timmins audience and this week hosted the Heart of Gold music festival, there were no indications that the ownership intended to seek permission to cut hair while serving drinks.
Around the corner at the Victory Tavern on Cedar St. S., similarly there were no signs of hair styling chairs or blow dryers appearing next to the bar and the karaoke machine.
But as they say, what is good for the goose, is good for the gander. So, one never knows.
