Hooray! Beer and wines coming to corner stores by August.
South Etobicoke and provincial convenience stores will begin selling beer, wine and alcohol cocktails this summer, according to Premier Doug Ford.
Ford was in Etobicoke on May 24 to announce that some of 8,500 Ontario convenience stores will begin selling beer, wine and alcoholic drinks by August 1.
Corner stores, gas stations and retailers can begin applying for a licence from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) on June 17, the province says.
Similarly, the 450 grocery stores province wide that already have licences for beer and wine will be allowed to sell ready-to-drink cocktails on August 1.
By October the alcoholic drinks will be in thousands of convenience and grocery stores province wide.
All other supermarkets and grocers will then be able to sell beer, wine, cider and canned spirit drinks as of October 31.
The retail locations where alcohol will be available for purchase will be able to sell packs of beer of any size, including 30 packs. They will also be able to set their own prices, though the province has regulated minimums.
The move will “give people more choice and more convenience when it comes to buying beer, cider, wine and other alcoholic beverages in Ontario,” Ford said. “The response from the public, from stakeholders, from small businesses has been absolutely overwhelmingly positive.”
He said the expansion will create new growth opportunities for local brewers, wineries, retailers and small businesses.
The LCBO stores will still be responsible for liquor sales in Ontario as beer and wine will be widely available on shelves.
“It’s going to support local jobs and most importantly, it’s going to give people more choice and convenience,” Ford said.
The province will in turn dish out $225 million to help The Beer Store maintain jobs and offset the costs of an accelerated timeline for beer sales at more locations throughout Ontario.
The funds will help support front-line workers at The Beer Store.
“We’re going to be audited every step of the way, to make sure that it’s being distributed in the right fashion.”
Premier Doug Ford made the announcement that was long expected in Etobicoke.
The LCBO will remain a public asset and will continue to operate as a wholesaler and a retailer. A full complement of beverages like vodka, gin and whisky will continue to be sold exclusively through the LCBO network.
The AGCO will be responsible for licensing retailers, and the government says the expansion will come with stronger penalties for infractions. Retailers whose licences are revoked won’t be able to reapply for two years.
The government is putting an additional $10 million over five years to support social responsibility, but a coalition of public health and advocacy organizations have called on the province to develop a comprehensive alcohol strategy for reducing harms.