Ontario is introducing sales of beer, wine and ready-made cocktails into corner stores and additional supermarkets 16 months ahead of schedule, a move that will see the province pay up to $225 million to The Beer Store.
Retailers, including convenience stores and gas stations, will be able to start selling the low-alcohol beverages as of Sept. 4. The process for applying for a licence from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) will open on June 17, the province says.
Similarly, the 450 grocery stores provincewide that already have licences for beer and wine will be allowed to sell ready-to-drink cocktails on Aug. 1.
All other supermarkets and grocers will then be able to sell beer, wine, cider and canned spirit drinks as of Oct. 31.
The retail locations participating in the government’s expansion of 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.
Premier Doug Ford and Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy announced the impending changes at a news conference in Etobicoke Friday morning.
“It was just a few months ago that we were together talking about our plan to give people more choice and more convenience when it comes to buying beer, cider, wine and other alcoholic beverages in Ontario. The response from the public, from stakeholders, from small businesses has been absolutely overwhelmingly positive,” Ford said Friday.
“That’s because our plan will create new growth opportunities for local brewers, wineries, retailers and small businesses. It’s going to support local jobs and most importantly, it’s going to give people more choice and convenience,” he added.
Premier Doug Ford announced Friday the province is introducing sales of beer, wine and ready-made cocktails into corner stores and additional supermarkets sooner than expected.
The provincial government’s strategy to “modernize” the alcohol market was first released last December, but it wasn’t supposed to take effect until 2026.
That timeline was in part due to the province’s Master Framework Agreement (MFA) with the multinational brewing conglomerates that own The Beer Store, which currently has a quasi-monopoly on the distribution and sale of beer in Ontario.
The MFA, a 10-year agreement signed by the previous Liberal government, gave The Beer Store exclusive rights to sell 12- and 24-packs of beer as the province expanded sales of beer and wine to grocery stores. It was set to expire in 2025.
Money for The Beer Store to be audited: Ford
At a technical briefing for media Friday, Ministry of Finance officials said the $225 million from the province will help The Beer Store maintain jobs, an evolved retail footprint and offset the costs of an accelerated timeline for beer sales at more locations…
Read More: Alcohol sales coming to Ontario corner stores by September
