In a video posted on Wednesday, Premier Doug Ford of Ontario hinted at the possibility of beer and wine becoming available in convenience stores and grocery stores across the province. Ford emphasized that his government had made a promise to bring these alcoholic beverages to retail outlets, echoing a campaign pledge he made in 2018. He urged the public to “get ready” for this potential change.
During the summer, the Ontario government held consultations with various stakeholders to develop a plan for fulfilling Ford’s promise. This commitment was initially presented as part of his 2018 election campaign. The Master Framework Agreement, originally signed in 2015 under Kathleen Wynne’s Liberal government, restricted the expansion of beer and wine sales to 450 grocery stores. This effectively granted the Beer Store a monopoly on selling beer in 12- and 24-packs. The agreement is set to expire in 2025.
Ford indicated in November that the Beer Store would continue to have a significant role in the overall system even after these changes are implemented.
Several of the grocers approved to sell beer and wine in 2015 have subsequently removed alcoholic beverages from their shelves entirely. They cited reasons such as theft and thin profit margins imposed by the province’s framework as the causes for this decision.
Ford is expected to provide further details about the potential introduction of beer and wine sales in Ontario convenience stores and grocery stores in a follow-up announcement scheduled for Thursday.
