Overview
The AGCO’s Mystery Shop Program supports the safe, responsible, and lawful sale of age gated products in the industries we regulate.
This AGCO program was established in 2017 when grocery stores began selling beer, cider and wine. Since then, we’ve expanded to other areas that we regulate, including:
- cannabis retail stores
- casinos
- The Beer Store
- convenience stores
- other liquor licensed premises, such as bars and restaurants
How does it work?
Youthful-looking mystery shoppers act like customers and try to buy liquor, cannabis or participate in gaming activities at licensed establishments.
The program helps the AGCO evaluate how licensees, retailers, and their staff are performing in meeting their regulatory responsibilities, particularly with respect to preventing youth access to age-gated products.
With the insights gained from this program, we then educate our licensees and registrants to help support their compliance. We may also take enforcement action against licensees found in violation of providing age-gated goods to minors, escalating in severity for repeat offences.
For more information, see the AGCO Mystery Shop Program Q&As web page.
Protecting the public
The AGCO works to ensure that the alcohol, gaming, horse racing and cannabis retail sectors operate in accordance with the principles of honesty and integrity, and in the public interest. This includes the protection of minors from the potential harms of alcohol, cannabis and gambling.
Licensees have a responsibility to protect minors.
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