The Canadian Convenience Store Association is applauding a plan by Ontario PC Leader Doug Ford to allow the sale of beer, wine, cider and coolers in convenience stores, if he is elected.
Speaking on AM800's the Lynn martin Show, Association President Dave Bryans says other provinces allow it, so why shouldn't Ontario.
He believes Ontario is living in the past.
"I think we are living sorta in this archaic world of lets control the beer market, allowing free foreign beer owners to run the beer stores, 80% of them, to still control the consumers in Ontario," he says.
"Doug Ford has hit it on the nail--that this is what Ontarians want and it is time to treat us more like a mature society instead of a bunch of children that can't even figure out how to handle a bottle of beer."
Bryans says convenience stores already sell tobacco and lottery tickets which also have strict regulations.
Chaouki Hamka, Local MADD chapter spokesperson strongly opposes the move because of concerns over safety and regulatory measures to prevent sales to minors and people who are already intoxicated.