New rules for bar staff in Nova Scotia after chokehold death of patron in 2022

New rules for bar security staff took effect Monday across Nova Scotia, a month after a Halifax bouncer was sentenced to four years in prison for killing a patron during a struggle.

The new regulations were developed in response to several incidents involving bar employees and patrons, including the December 2022 death of Ryan Michael Sawyer, who was put into a two-minute chokehold by a bouncer at the Halifax Alehouse.

Under the new rules, security staff at all licensed establishments must have a criminal record check and provide the results to their employer, and they must complete training in security and responsible alcohol use.

As well, they must perform their duties without compromising public safety.

On Christmas Eve of 2022, Alexander Pishori Levy was head of security at the Halifax Alehouse when there was a minor altercation inside the bar, and he asked Sawyer and his twin brother Kyle to leave.

During a tussle outside the bar at 1 a.m., Levy placed Ryan Sawyer in a chokehold for nearly two minutes.

The 31-year-old Ontario man, who was visiting his relatives in Nova Scotia, suffered a heart attack and died in hospital.

During Levy’s trial, Ryan Sawyer’s brother confirmed that each man consumed about eight to 10 beers that evening. Testifying in his own defence, Levy told the court he applied the chokehold because he was worried Ryan Sawyer would overpower him.

Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice James Chipman said he found inconsistencies in what Levy told the court, which undermined his credibility.

In a ruling delivered in June of last year, Chipman said Levy did not use de-escalation techniques even though he had been trained how to use them during his 17 years in the bar security business.

The judge said the evidence showed Kyle Sawyer threw the first punch at a bar employee when he and his brother stepped outside. Both men were then forced to the ground by security staff.

“Scrutiny of all of the (surveillance and cellphone) videos at this critical juncture causes me to readily conclude that within seconds of jumping on Ryan, Mr. Levy placed his right arm around Ryan’s neck and effected a rear naked chokehold,” Chipman said.

Levy, who testified in his own defence, had told the court he applied the hold because he was worried Ryan Sawyer would overpower him. Levy said he applied the hold for 10 or 15 seconds.

But the judge rejected that assertion, saying the evidence showed Levy pulled back on the victim’s neck for about two minutes.

“Despite his training and experience, he continued to apply pressure while Ryan was not moving,” Chipman said in his ruling.

“Mr. Levy’s actions throughout demonstrate that he precipitated the physical violence and deployed the last-resort rear naked chokehold when the manoeuvre was entirely unwarranted.”

In November of last year, Chipman convicted Levy of manslaughter and criminal negligence causing death. He was sentenced in late April.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 1, 2026.