Steam Whistle Brewery says restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a decline in bottle returns, leaving it with a potential shortage just as sales are expected to ramp up for spring and summer.

The 64 Beer Stores selected across Ontario will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Labour Day holiday Monday. Full list of stores here:

Under the current system, a maximum of 450 grocery stores can sell alcohol, licensed retailers must charge identical prices for products, and bars and restaurants must purchase alcohol from the LCBO and the Beer Store at consumer prices rather than wholesale ones.

Ontario Finance Minister Vic Fedeli said the province will allow 87 more grocery stores to sell alcohol, as well as over 200 new "LCBO Convenience Outlets." 

The letter comes just days after the Ontario Chamber of Commerce sent a letter to Finance Minister Vic Fedeli expressing similar concerns.

The document, obtained by Global News from a party source, directs PC MPPs to "go out to a neighbourhood convenience store to showcase it as a potential future location for Ontarians to buy beer and wine."

Finance Minister Vic Fedeli says "beer insiders" are fuelling online mockery of a government social media blitz promoting alcohol in corner stores.

Some studies have argued that an expansion of alcohol sales in Ontario will lead to lower prices on average, while others claim the opposite.

One microbrewery in Bath, Ont. is hoping that the end of this contract will be its chance to increase sales.

The previous Liberal government signed a 10-year deal with the brewers that permitted an expansion of beer and wine sales to hundreds of grocery stores.