Starting in April 2018, Ontario will expand beer and cider sales to 87 more grocery stores, increasing convenience and choice for people across the province.
The winning grocers were selected via a competitive bidding process held by the LCBO. They join over 200 grocery stores already authorized to sell beer and cider, bringing the total number of Ontario grocery stores that will be authorized to sell beer and cider to 370. Up to 70 of these stores can also sell wine.
Bringing beer, cider and wine to grocery stores is part of the largest change to alcohol retailing in the province since prohibition.
Ontario maintains a strong commitment to social responsibility. By law, grocers selling beer, cider or wine must have designated sales areas and standard hours of sale, abide by limitations on package size and alcohol content, and meet staffing and social responsibility training requirements.
Ontario’s plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.
Of the 87 stores, 11 are independent grocery stores and 76 stores are owned by large grocers.
Ultimately, beer and cider will be available in up to 450 grocery stores, including up to 300 that will also sell wine.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
