By Staff
September 5th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Starting today, all licensed convenience stores in Ontario can sell beer, cider, wine and ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages, marking the largest expansion of consumer choice and convenience in provincial alcohol sales since the end of prohibition almost 100 years ago.
As of September 5, 4,187 convenience stores across Ontario are licensed to sell alcoholic beverages, in addition to nearly 3,000 other licensed retail outlets as well as takeaway options from licensed bars and restaurants.
“Today’s expansion delivers on our government’s promise to give people in Ontario the same choice and convenience enjoyed by people throughout the rest of Canada,” said Premier Doug Ford. “With today’s announcement, we’re also creating new opportunities to produce and sell world-class Ontario-made beer, wine and ready-to-drink beverages in nearly 4,200 convenience stores across the province.”
Find out where the locations are in your neighbourhood
The government’s phased expansion, which began earlier this year, is giving customers across Ontario more choice and convenience, supporting businesses and helping to promote Ontario-made beverage producers. By the end of October 2024, as part of the government’s plan to expand alcohol sales, every eligible convenience, grocery and big-box grocery store in Ontario will be able to sell beer, cider, wine and ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages if they choose to do so.
Doug Ford is said to be a tee-teetotaller but when it come to supporting an election promise and currying favour – you do what you gotta do.
“People finally have more options to responsibly and conveniently support local Ontario breweries and wineries – or whatever their drink-of-choice may be – even closer to home, and today’s announcement is another milestone in the government’s commitment to deliver more choice and convenience to consumers,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance. “In addition to supporting Ontario retailers, domestic producers and workers in the alcohol industry, our vision for a better marketplace has come to life thanks to people and businesses across the province.”
The government is also permanently allowing the transfer of wine and spirits between locations with the same owner and/or affiliated licensees in order to help bars and restaurants effectively manage inventory, and is allowing licensed grocery and convenience stores to display alcoholic beverages in multiple areas of a store, while maintaining small-producer shelf space requirements as well as policies that will continue to ensure the safe and responsible sale of alcohol.
The government will continue to work closely with the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO), the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and The Beer Store, in addition to consulting and meeting with industry partners, local beverage alcohol producers and other stakeholders as it completes the launch of this new marketplace.
To support a vibrant beverage alcohol industry, at least 20 per cent of the beer, cider, wine and ready-to-drink beverages on display in grocery and convenience stores must be produced by craft producers.
It all started when the Premier used a “buck a beer” as a campaign angle.
The government is enhancing protections for winery retail stores, offering additional support to the local industry. These time-limited measures are designed to incentivize the co-location of these stores and ensure their viability in the evolving alcohol marketplace. The measures include extending protections and incentives for co-located winery retail stores until January 1, 2036 and enabling co-located winery retail stores to offer home delivery services.
Over time, Ontario’s new, more open marketplace will introduce up to an estimated 8,500 new stores where these products can be sold.
Everyone in the booze business applauds the changes made – except for those who work with alcoholics and the thousands of damaged households across the province.
For the most part the old system worked. The multi-national beer companies had a strong hold on the beer market.
The Beer Store is the only place taking empties. Some LCBO agents are taking them.
Opening up sales opportunities for the small independent locations was a good move.
Giving The Beer Store $225 million to keep them quiet for awhile was necessary.
Requiring space for the Craft Breweries to display their products was good for breweries who have always had a hard time getting their product before the public.
The issue that hasn’t been given the attention it needs is the return of the empties. That has to given attention as soon as possible.
This change is long overdue and finally allows adult consumers in Ontario where they can purchase their beverage alcohol throughout the province. For too long past Premiers have secretly protected the Beer Store owners duopoly on the sale of beer and limited the opportunities for craft brewers and local made products. C stores have proven to everyone that they can responsibly sell contentious products like tobacco and governments own lottery programs and this is just a simple move to allow for open markets.
Finally someone with guts to move into a world where adults are treated as adults.
50 years too late Doug. Bought my first cases of beer at Chez Albert(e) in Ste Genieve. I am 70. I would however like to see North Amercian pricing for wine and spirits for those that partake.