TORONTO – Consumers looking to purchase beer in Ontario during the busy holiday season can now do so at 58 grocery stores across the province.
A number of grocery stores set up beer displays Monday night in anticipation of the launch which was officially announced in Toronto by Premier Kathleen Wynne Tuesday morning.
“Anything that the government can do to help people save some time is worthwhile,” Wynne said while addressing the convenience factor of selling beer at grocery stores during a press conference at a Loblaw location.
Wynne said craft brewers will also have a more notable presence in the grocery store aisles.
“The origin of the discussion around brewers in Ontario and how they could work together and how we might create a more level playing field,” said Wynne.
“The craft brewers have been working closely with us as we’ve made these changes.”
VIDEO: Wynne outlined when and how much beer consumers will be able buy at Ontario grocery stores.
The display cases indicate beer can be purchased on Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The hours are the same as any Beer Store and the prices will mirror the LCBO. Consumers however will only be allowed to purchase six-packs.
The province said there will be separate check out aisles for those who purchase beer along with trained staff.
“We’ve got the same parameters on the sale of beer as in the Beer Store and LCBO,” said Wynne. “The training that has happened. The awareness in the grocery store. The fact that there are certain checkout counters will be used.”
Last month, the province announced a list of 13 winning bidders selected to sell beer in grocery stores across Ontario which include a mix of independent and large grocers.
The government intends to allow the sale of six-packs to 450 grocery stores across the province — including up to another 100 by the end of next year.
The new beer sale locations come in the wake of a report by a panel headed by TD Bank CEO Ed Clark, which examined Crown assets to find ways to bring in additional revenue to pay for the province’s infrastructure projects.
VIDEO: Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne spoke to reporters Tuesday morning, stressing that all efforts will be taken to carry out safe and responsible beer sales in select Ontario grocery stores.
Below is a list of Greater Toronto Area grocery stores selling beer:
- Farm Boy
360 Taunton Rd., Unit 2, Whitby - Michael-Angelo’s
4099 Erin Mills Parkway, Mississauga - Coppa’s Fresh Market
4750 Dufferin St., Toronto - Coppa’s Fresh Market
3300 Rutherford Road, Vaughan - Galleria Supermarket
7040 Yonge St., Vaughan - Galleria Supermarket
865 York Mills Road, Suite 1, Toronto - Real Canadian Superstore
51 Gerry Fitzgerald Drive, Toronto - Loblaws
380 The East Mall, Etobicoke - Loblaws
5010 Glen Erin Drive, Mississauga - Loblaws
17 Leslie St., Toronto - Loblaws
50 Musgrave St., Toronto - Real Canadian Superstore
171 Guelph St, Georgetown - Real Canadian Superstore
1385 Harmony Road North, Oshawa - Real Canadian Superstore
2549 Weston Rd., Toronto - Real Canadian Superstore
18120 Yonge St., Newmarket - Metro
1050 Kennedy Circle, Milton - Metro
1822 Whites Road, Pickering - Metro
16640 Yonge St., Newmarket - Longo’s
3455 Wyecroft Road, Oakville - Longo’s
469 Cornwall Road, Oakville - Sobeys
15500 Bayview Ave., Aurora - Sobeys
11700 Yonge St., Richmond Hill - FreshCo
2501 Third Line, Oakville - FreshCo
800 Steeles Ave W., Vaughan
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