Ontario Premier Doug Ford is announcing that sales of beer, wine, cider and ready-to-drink cocktails will be allowed in convenience stores and all grocery stores in the province by 2026.
Government officials say 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.
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 today that 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.