Should Ontario convenience stores sell booze? 112,500 people think so
Ontarians’ long-standing gripes with the province’s rigid liquor-buying laws are starting to boil over. Members of the Ontario Convenience Stores Association and booze-loving locals have organized under the “Free our beer!” banner to ask the province to allow corner stores to sell wine and beer (yes, the so-called “Agency Stores” already do so, but that’s limited to smaller communities). Thus far, they’ve collected 112,500 signatures for their petition, which they brought to Queen’s Park today. The whole project had a humble start: the petition was launched in Joanne McMurchy’s convenience store in the wee hamlet of Vanessa, Ontario (population: 80). Locals, who had to drive 20 minutes away for a bottle of wine, kept asking McMurchy when Ontario would loosen up its liquor laws. She started collecting names. It eventually spread to other cities including Toronto. Campaign reps say this is the single largest petition collected in the province—proof that Ontarians really, really want to free their beer. [Free Our Beer]
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. Thus far, they’ve collected 112,500 signatures for their petition, which they brought to Queen’s Park today. The whole project had a humble start: the petition was launched in Joanne McMurchy’s convenience store in the wee hamlet of Vanessa, Ontario (population: 80). Locals, who had to drive 20 minutes away for a bottle of wine, kept asking McMurchy when Ontario would loosen up its liquor laws. She started collecting names. It eventually spread to other cities including Toronto. Campaign reps say this is the single largest petition collected in the province—proof that Ontarians really, really want to free their beer. [Free Our Beer]
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of course things have to change
joanne wong’s article said everything i need to know
i moved here 7 years ago from england and this situation is ridiculous
no, but major retailers like loblaws could
NO.
No.
LCBO brings in 1.6bil for Ontario and another 700mil in taxes for the Federal Government.
If you answered yes to this then you must also support the at least $100 indefinite tax increase (about $4500 (based on zero inflation over 45 years etc more likely 8000-10000 when all is taken to account) over your tax paying life) so that you can get booze at 7/11 after 10pm.
This tax increase would be for people who pay taxes whether they drink or not.
I understand the attractiveness of this but its just not worth it.
I do however believe there could be some kind of provision for extremely rural communities which are just not served by the LCBO, but anywhere that is served by the LCBO changing would take billions out of the government purse.
I think it would be a great idea to have beer and wine sold at convenience stores etc.
However, the government should consider this.
The beer and wine sold there should be products that are only made in Ontario.
It would be a win-win for everyone!
Yes. LCBO’s are often inconvenient to reach, even in Toronto. And I support independent retailers.
I full heartily agree that the monopoly should be closed.
Comments from Sean that our taxes will increase are valid, however look at it this way.
E Health, ORNGE,”Green Energy” the recent bait and switch on the powerplant in Mississauga all cost in the billions. Kinda hard to support all that waste with less revenue, with the LCBO being dismantled.
Alcohol is sold around the world by private parties and they all do just fine. Look at Quebec and Alberta, no one is bankrupt.
I WISH! WISH ! WISH! FOR THIS TO HAPPEN BUT IM ALMOST SURE THIS DISGUSTING GREEDY PROVINCE WILL NEVER ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN. MAKES ME WANNA VOMIT .
Ontario is the most bakcwards and strickest province.. In Europe you can get alcohol 24/7 there are no drastic numbers in drunk driving or any drunk accidents. Some people now go to bars to get a drink alcohol being sold at a convenient store would let more people stay at home. I’m European living here makes me feel like living during prohibition. Alcohol isnt bad. Maybe if alcohol was easier to access there would be less drug abusers!!!!! All for the selling of alcohol in convenience stores !
The LCBO is the largest purchaser of beer and spirits in the world. They have real clout with suppliers, yet this is not filtering through to consumers. You can by Lindeman’s win in the US for half the price of what we have to pay here – even when our dollar was stronger than the greenback. Wake up folks! Selling wine and beer at supermarkets, etc. would create a bit of competition for LCBO which would probably be a very, very good thing (for us).
Obviously yes. Toronto claims to be “world class”, but it is SO provincial. A world class city sells alchohol in stores not just in overprices, unionized stores with limited hours. Get real. Even communist countries were not this bad.
I agree with what was suggested by another respondent. Ontario-made beer and wine only should be available through convenience stores. And despite what someone else wrote, this would barely put a dent in the LCBO’s profits, and should therefore not affect our taxes, while at the same time give a boost to local producers.
People that are against this need to get their facts straight. The beer and wine in the convenience stores would still be heavily taxed. Also, Lcbo would still exist! This will in no way put them out of business. It will give them some competition which is better for Ontario in the long run.
getting rid of the lcbo would also mean lower variety available. i’ve lived in alberta, the corner store doesn’t stock interesting items or items at differing price points, they stock only what sells high volume. the alberta government still takes their flat tax and the margin for the retailer is low which is why they need to move volume.
no system is ideal but i like being able to go and find a decent wine and not just crap like lindemans…
Loblaws needs to sell beer and licks. I can buy Jack from trader Joes in the states for 20 bucks. Wal-Mart is even crazier…4 dollar bottles of wine…i’ll take it.
If anyone went on line and checked out the Sunshine list they will soon come to the realization that the LCBO has 600 outlets (including 200 C Stors) and pays 237 employees over $100,000 per year. No other retailer in the developed countries could afford this type of overhead. It is outrageous! Time for change and to open up the sale of beer/wine and soft alcohol. Add in the Beer stores (monopoly) are owned by 3 foreign national companies who control price,distribution, shelf space and record profits.
some people commented that it will cost us more when infact it’s the opposite. no longer would i have to drive out of my way to purchase alcohol. I’ve lived in Europe for years and for me this is a sick joke. It’s a kick in the balls to all the hard working men. why should i have to wait in line on a friday afternoon to buy beer after working all week?
screw this monopolistic, corrupt aystem
No. This is a grubby organization that makes minimum wage earners pay for thefts including gasoline and will probably sucker them when people pinch wine and beer. No this organization and the mouthpieces should look at themselves when they make people pay for loses caused by shoplifters and driveaways. Dirty filthy stores and dirty grubby owners.