Waitress Liability for Dine-and-Dash in Calgary, Alberta

In Alberta, there is no specific "dine-and-dash" law making servers personally liable. If a customer leaves without paying:

• The restaurant may sue the customer for breach of contract.
• Theft charges are possible only if the bill exceeds $5,000 (Criminal Code threshold).
• Servers should notify management immediately; calling police is an option but not required.
• Ultimately, the employer bears responsibility for payment collection—servers cannot be legally forced to cover the loss.

Best practice: clear house policies, table checks, and POS systems that track open tabs.