Beer, wine, alcoholic beverages coming to Ont. convenience stores
The move would fulfil a promise Ford made during the 2018 election and marks the second attempt the premier has made to put beer and wine in corner stores.
Sales of beer, wine, cider and ready-to-drink cocktails will be allowed in convenience stores and all grocery stores in Ontario by 2026, Premier Doug Ford announced on Dec. 14.
Government officials said these are some of the biggest changes in alcohol sales in the history of the province, making Ontario just the second jurisdiction in Canada — after Quebec — to offer beer in corner stores and the first to offer ready-to-drink cocktails in those locations.
Ford said the expanded marketplace will give people more choice, convenience and time.
“We’ve got to start treating people like adults here in the province,” he said at a press conference.
“Folks, we all have busy lives, so just imagine on a Friday night in December, instead of being stuck in a long lineup at the LCBO, you’ll be able to pop into your local convenience store before heading out to the holiday party.”
The move would fulfil a promise Ford made during the 2018 election and marks the second attempt the premier has made to put beer and wine in corner stores, previously passing but not enacting legislation to cancel an agreement with the Beer Store.
That agreement saw sales of beer and wine expanded to a maximum of 450 grocery stores across the province, with the Beer Store retaining exclusive rights to sell 12- and 24-packs of beer, and Ontario is announcing that the deal and those terms will end in 2025.
Under Ford’s plan, eligible retail outlets across the province, including an estimated 6,700 convenience stores and another 1,800 grocery stores, will be able to set their own pricing _ right now, all retail outlets have to adhere to pricing set by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario.
Officials say certain amounts of shelf space will have to be dedicated to small beer and wine producers.
Ontario’s new agreement with the Beer Store will see it retain a “primary” role in beer distribution and run its recycling program for five years.
No commitments have been made beyond the five-year term of the new deal, officials said.
