Originally Posted by
pitz
"Rules" and "practice" are two entirely different things. On both sides of the border, the general feeling is that airlines and interstate/interprovincial railways are governed by federal law with provincial/state law being irrelevant. When it comes to paying taxes or obtaining liquor licenses, they certainly are.
However, curiously, and perhaps out of a desire to avoid confrontation with the local liquor regulators, they tend to adopt the local regulations. A compromise that seems to have worked well enough that it hasn't gone to court for a definitive determination of whether the (US federal) supremacy clause, or the division of powers provisions under Canada's constitution apply.
So if you are denied liquor in the MLL at 6am in the morning, its AC that's setting the rules, perhaps to protect you from the scourge of alcoholism, or perhaps just to save money on the cost of liquor. Not the provincial liquor regulator.
Sorry but Canadian airport authorities are local entities subject to the laws of their province and municipality. Aa are the airlines when on the ground. (Have you not noticed its the Mississauga police who patrol YYZ, not the Mounties?) All facilities that serve alcohol must be licensed from their respective province and abide by the rules set by those licensing boards. (Ever notice you're not supposed to bring alcohol into the computer work area of the YYZ MLLs?) Airlines pay provincial and federal taxes witness their complaints over Ontario's raising the excise tax on fuel. Even in the US, airport lounges must be licensed and abide by local liquor licensing authorities.