Steve Lafleur, public policy analyst with the Frontier Centre for Public Policy, lays bare how The Beer Store is distorting the facts in an attempt to keep its monopoly: A recent report from The Beer Store claimed that Ontarians would pay $10 more on average per case of beer if convenience stores were permitted to sell them. This … Read more
Maclean’s Magazine’s Colby Cosh takes on the fiction emanating from The Beer Store: “It is encouraging to see so much ridicule being flung at the Beer Store’s “study” defending its role in the Soviet-flavoured Ontario liquor retailing system. The effectiveness of the Beer Store’s white paper depends on its Ontario audience knowing no practical details of freer retail schemes, … Read more
Once again, the privately owned monopoly called The Beer Store seems to be winning the day with Ontario’s political leaders, even with a vague caveat aimed at appeasing small craft brewers. After telling reporters she has “no intentions of allowing the sale of beer in convenience stores,” Wynne told an online “ask me anything” session this week … Read more
Bitter taste of reader feedback over The Beer Store: Cohn Judging by the head of foam overflowing from my inbox, politicians ignore Ontario’s nasty brew of anti-competitive behaviour at their peril. By: Martin Regg Cohn Provincial Politics, Published on Thu Jan 30 2014 One more kick at the (beer) can: After a couple of holiday columns on The Beer Store, … Read more
NEWS ON BREWS: CRAFT BREWS BELONG IN CORNER STORES Ottawa Citizen By Vito Pilieci Another week has passed and the Ontario government has passed on another opportunity to modernize the draconian way in which the province deals with alcohol sales. Premier Kathleen Wynne came out swinging last Tuesday, shooting down any chance that liquor laws would … Read more
Convenience store chains unveil major initiative to dedicate one-third of retailing space for Ontario wines and Ontario craft beer New retail channel would create big opportunities for local craft beers and Ontario wines to be sold right in the communities where they are made and across the province October 29, 2013 – Queen’s Park, Toronto … Read more
Mac’s Convenience Stores Inc. is promising to build 27 new convenience stores at the cost of $2 million each if it is granted the right to sell alcohol in Ontario. Tom Moher, vice-president of operations of Mac’s central Canada division, said during a speech in Toronto that the new convenience stores would be built within … Read more
Economic Study: Ontario’s beer retailing system enables The Beer Store owners to capture up to $700 million in incremental profits from Ontario beer drinkers every year “The Beer Store is a classic textbook example of a cartel” – peculiarly protected by provincial legislation in Ontario August 12, 2013 – Toronto – A new economic study … Read more
Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa isn’t ruling out the sale of alcohol in convenience stores. Asked repeatedly whether he’d allow convenience stores to sell booze, Sousa wouldn’t close the door to the change, which the governing Liberals have repeatedly rebuffed. The minister says the Liquor Control Board of Ontario is expanding its reach into grocery … Read more
Study shows Ontario government could earn higher profits by allowing competition to government-run LCBO and foreign-owned Beer Store Keeping LCBO and Beer Store, but increasing competition for consumers grows LCBO profits and creates opportunities for more government revenueTORONTO, June 24, 2013 /CNW/ – A new economic study suggests that expanding the current retailing system beyond the LCBO, … Read more