 |
WINNIPEG (Sun Media) - A popular university pub crawl is in hot water after showing a hard-core pornographic music video that violates the rules of its liquor licence.
An X-rated, seven-minute video by European musician Benny Benassi -- which features women operating power drills and then segues to other types of penetration -- was shown on the big screen at The Lid on Saturday.
"You cannot show that in a cabaret," said Diana Soroka, spokeswoman for Manitoba Liquor Control Commission. "They've been instructed to take action and ensure it isn't shown anymore and we will continue to monitor the situation."
Soroka said the cabaret liquor licence, which is what the Pembina Highway night club holds, does not permit adult entertainment to be shown on the premises.
Only establishments with beverage room licences are permitted to show porn and other forms of adult entertainment, said Soroka.
Tom Manos, the general manager at The Lid, said he was unaware the Benassi music video -- called Satisfaction -- was recently played in the bar, but admits it was always a popular hit with the crowd.
"It's fun. People come here and want to have a good time and that's what they do," said Manos. "There are still requests (for the Satisfaction video), but it's something we can't play."
The Lid switched from a beverage room to a cabaret licence 18 months ago to host more events like wrestling matches and to have more video lottery Terminals, said Manos.
He's disappointed he can't show porn under the new licence and can't understand the reasoning behind the restriction.
"It's just exotic entertainment," he said. "The things on the news are far more disturbing than some exotic entertainment played in a night club. There was never a complaint about it."
Soroka said MLCC inspectors will keep a close eye on The Lid. If the establishment continues to breach its licence, it could have their liquor licence pulled, face a fine or be shut down.
"There's a range of disciplinary action the board can take on the licensee," said Soroka. "But that would be the end result."
Some people were surprised to learn porn is permitted in bars that hold beverage licences.
Community activist Marianne Cerilli said mixing alcohol and porn in a bar can be a "recipe for trouble."
"I would be concerned about the health and well being of the people when they mix those two ingredients," said Cerilli.
Tory MLA Glen Cummings said bars should at least provide warning to patrons before showing explicit material.
"If you're walking in off the street you should have some understanding of what you'll be exposed to," said Cummings.
Scott Smith, the minister responsible for the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission, said porn is completely legitimate in places with a beverage room licence.
"As far as my personal opinion, I don't watch porn, I don't like porn. But if it's legal and people choose to take that as recreation, then so be it," said Smith.