Toronto 
Starting this summer, Ontario will see a major expansion in the availability of alcoholic beverages in retail stores, with a phased rollout allowing convenience, grocery, and big-box stores to offer products including beer, cider, wine, and ready-to-drink beverages.
Credit: LCBO
This initiative, set to commence in August and finalize by the end of October 2024, aims to increase consumer choice and access.
Announcing the news, Premier Doug Ford said, “In the coming weeks and months, people in Ontario, like many Canadians across the country, will have the option to responsibly and conveniently purchase a case of beer or a bottle of wine on their way up to the cottage or to a summer barbecue, all while having even more opportunity to support local Ontario breweries and wineries.”
Key milestones of the rollout include:
- Allowing up to 450 grocery stores already licensed for alcohol sales to start selling ready-to-drink beverages and larger pack sizes like the 30-pack from August 1
- All eligible convenience stores will begin alcohol sales after September 5
- This will be followed by alcohol sales at all remaining eligible grocery and big-box stores by October 31.
As part of the transition to this open market system, the Ontario government has pledged up to $225 million to The Beer Store over the next 19 months to support job protection and the continuation of its province-wide recycling program. This is alongside $10 million allocated over five years to enhance public health and social responsibility measures in the sale and consumption of alcohol.
Per the news release, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) will enforce stringent licensing and social responsibility standards, maintaining rigorous oversight to ensure compliance. Retailers found violating the regulations may face severe penalties, including license revocation.
This expansion is described as the most significant growth in consumer alcohol access since the end of prohibition, potentially increasing retail locations to 8,500.
The province says the Beer Store and the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) will remain integral to the marketplace, with the LCBO continuing to handle the sale of spirits and The Beer Store managing distribution and recycling. This move also promises competitive pricing across new sales points.
