The AGCO Mystery Shop Program – Q&As

A: The Mystery Shop (MYS) Program is a compliance tool employed by the AGCO where youthful-looking mystery shoppers pose as customers to assess compliance and gather information on AGCO’s licensees. The program helps the AGCO to identify the risk profiles of its licensees which then allows the AGCO to allocate inspection and educational outreach resources based on risk.

A. In for mystery shops conducted in liquor retail locations, the AGCO is permitted by legislation to use individuals aged 16-18. For cannabis retail locations, the AGCO is permitted by legislation to use individuals who are 18 years of age.

A. The AGCO is dedicated to regulating in the public interest by, among other things, ensuring compliance in the sectors it regulates and mitigating risks to public safety and protection of minors.

As part of its regulatory activities, the AGCO engages with licensees and registrants in an educational approach to help ensure they are compliant with applicable legislation, regulations, and Registrar’s Standards. The MYS Program is an additional compliance tool which helps the AGCO to assess risks and informs future inspection and compliance activities. Enforcement action may be taken to address non-compliance.

A. The AGCO Mystery Shop Program was established in 2017, following the introduction of beer, cider and wine sales in grocery stores.

A. Under the program, youthful-looking ‘mystery shoppers’ enter a licensed establishment and attempt to purchase or gain access to an age-gated products. For example, entering a grocery store and attempting to purchase alcohol. The program supports organizational compliance activities by enabling the AGCO to determine if grocery store employees are checking identification. If the licensee does not check ID and allows access to the product and service, the AGCO can take actions to bring the licensee back into compliance.

A. When the AGCO observes instances of non-compliance with the regulatory requirements, there are several actions that the AGCO can take to bring the licensee back into compliance. Action taken may depend on the seriousness of the infraction and can include education, warning, monetary penalty, suspension, and/or revocation of licence.

A. Since its introduction in the grocery store liquor retail sector, the program has expanded to enhance compliance in other regulated sectors including cannabis retail stores, casinos, convenience stores, The Beer Store, and liquor licensed premises such as restaurants and bars.

A. Licensees that operate casinos and sell or serve liquor or sell cannabis are reminded that: 

• Customers must be 19 years of age to:
  • Enter or remain in a gaming site
  • Purchase and consume liquor
  • Purchase liquor at a retail outlet
  • Enter a retail area and purchase cannabis.
• In a cannabis store, the legislation states that any person who appears 25 years and younger must be asked for identification. 

Learn more about valid identification and tips about checking ID.

Liquor licensees must ensure that the following people hold a valid certificate verifying successful completion of an AGCO Board-approved training program: every person involved in the sale, service, sampling or delivery of liquor or in taking orders for the sale of liquor; security staff whom the licensee employs or, in the case of a stadium, uses; employees involved in the sale and service of liquor from motorized vending carts, as well as course marshals, for Golf Course Endorsement holders; and every large quadricycle chauffeur. In the case of cannabis licensees, employees must be certified by taking one of the two Board-approved training programs if they are involved in the sale of cannabis.

A. For more information on the AGCO’s Mystery Shop Program please contact customer.service@agco.ca.