Photo Credit: ontario.ca

ONTARIO 🛒🍳🧃 Let’s Make it an Ontario-Made Summer!

Monday, 08 July 2024 12:00.PM

- New interactive map connects consumers to more than 2,300 retailers across Ontario, including more than 1,000 local producers -

This summer, there are still thousands of places people can buy their favourite beer, cider, wine or even spirits across Ontario. To help consumers connect with local retailers and producers close to home during the ongoing OPSEU strike, the province has launched a new searchable and interactive map of retailers that remain open and ready to serve. These retailers include more than 1,000 local Ontario breweries, wineries, wine shops and distilleries, in addition to other retailers such as LCBO Convenience Outlets, The Beer Store and licenced grocery stores that sell a range of Ontario-made and imported products.

“This new map is a great way to connect people across the province to local Ontario-made products and support the hundreds of Ontario businesses and thousands of Ontario workers who make these products and serve customers each and every day,” said Premier Doug Ford. “It also supports our plan to offer consumers the kind of choice and convenience available to other Canadians when purchasing alcoholic beverages, starting later this summer. I hope people across the province will take this chance to shop local and responsibly enjoy some great Ontario-made products!”

The new convenient and easy-to-use map can help users find a location that sells beer, wine, cider, spirits or ready-to-drink beverages. The map will be updated regularly as alcohol sales are expanded to more licensed grocery and convenience stores. As LCBO retail stores re-open, these will also be added to the map.

“Our government is delivering on its commitment to expand the province’s beverage alcohol retail marketplace to increase choice and convenience for shoppers earlier than planned,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance. “Ontario can rest assured there are more options to purchase than ever before, thanks to the government’s bold plan to modernize alcohol sales.”

As announced in May 2024, Ontario is expanding the province’s alcohol beverage marketplace in phases to allow convenience, grocery and big-box grocery stores to sell beer, cider, wine and ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages, such as coolers, hard seltzers or other premixed cocktails.

Starting in August, existing grocery retailers that currently sell wine or beer will be able to sell new products like coolers and other ready-to-drink beverages alongside more pack sizes of beer. This will be followed by new retailers being able to sell an increased selection of local, domestic and international alcohol products in a safe and responsible manner. By the end of October 2024, every eligible convenience, grocery and big-box store in Ontario will be able to sell beer, cider, wine and ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages if they choose to do so.

The government will continue to work closely with the LCBO, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and The Beer Store, while consulting and meeting with industry partners, local beverage alcohol producers and other stakeholders as it prepares to launch this new marketplace.

Quick Facts
• There are currently 628 wineries and winery retail stores, 82 distillery retail stores, 373 breweries, 448 grocery stores, 389 LCBO Convenience Outlets and 437 The Beer Store locations displayed on the map.
• The LCBO will remain a public asset and, aside from distillery retail stores and LCBO Convenience Outlets, is the only retailer where spirits such as vodka, gin and whiskey will be sold in addition to other alcohol beverages such as wine, beer and coolers.
• The Beer Store will operate as a retailer and will continue its effective and efficient provincewide recycling program for alcoholic beverage containers and distribution until at least 2031.
• Over time, this new, more open marketplace will introduce up to 8,500 new stores where consumers can purchase alcohol, representing the largest expansion of consumer choice and convenience since the end of prohibition, almost 100 years ago.
• The government will conduct a targeted review of taxes and fees on beer, wine and alcoholic beverages with the aim of promoting a fairer and more competitive marketplace for Ontario-based products and consumers. The government expects this review to be completed by the end of the year.
• As announced in December 2023, the government is providing an additional $10 million over five years to support social responsibility and public health efforts to ensure alcohol continues to be sold and consumed safely in the expanded marketplace. Existing requirements related to staff training, minimum pricing, hours of sale and warning signs will be maintained and applied to all new retail outlets.

SOURCE: Ontario Ministry of Finance

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