Ontario to Permit the Sale of Beer and Wine in Corner Stores.
The Ontario government is poised to unveil an initiative aimed at expanding the retail landscape for specific alcoholic beverages, such as beer, wine, and pre-mixed cocktails, throughout the province. According to sources within the industry who shared insights with CBC News, the plan, scheduled for cabinet discussion on Tuesday, outlines provisions for supermarkets, convenience and corner stores, as well as gas stations to commence the sale of beer, wine, and canned pre-mixed cocktails by the year 2026.
One of the significant changes to be announced on Thursday involves the removal of the existing cap on the number of supermarkets holding retail licenses in the province. Additionally, the plan permits all supermarkets to retail beer, wine, and ready-to-drink (RTD) packaged beverages.
In addition to the province’s five-year-old commitment to authorize the sale of beer in convenience stores, the initiative will also abolish the limitations that currently restrict The Beer Store from exclusively selling cases of 12 and 24.
As per information from insiders who conversed with The Globe and Mail, the provincial government is expected to outline the forthcoming status of its agreement, commonly referred to as the Master Framework Agreement (MFA), with the major corporations that possess The Beer Store.
Initially signed by the Liberal government in 2015, the contract permitted the restricted sale of beer in 450 grocery stores. However, it imposed constraints on these stores, preventing them from selling beer in quantities larger than a six-pack. Meanwhile, The Beer Store retained its exclusive privilege to sell packs containing 12 and 24 beers.
The provincial government will also mandate stores to allocate a specific portion of their shelf space to Ontario’s craft brewers and small-scale wineries.
However, despite the imminent announcement, modifications to the sales of alcohol in Ontario are not slated to take effect until January 1, 2026, coinciding with the expiration of the previous agreement at the end of 2025.
