CONFUSION BREWING
Ontario puzzled at reports of beer sales at grocers
Amid expressions of support, there was also confusion, angry allegations and more questions Friday in response to a report that the province may be moving to loosen the grip of The Beer Store and the LCBO on alcohol sales.
Microbreweries, which have been fighting for retail options other than the two major retailers, were left scratching their heads by the reports that the province may move to allow major grocers to stock beer on their shelves.
“We didn’t ask for this,” said Steve Beauchesne, co-founder of Beau’s All Natural Brewing and vice-chair of microbrewery lobby group Ontario Craft Brewers. “We have no idea what this will look like, which is a little bit frustrating.”
If large chains such as Loblaws, Sobeys and Metro are given the ability to sell beer, it could open new opportunities for the province’s booming craft brewers, and that would be a good thing, said Beauchesne.
But he cautioned that if such a move forced small breweries to compete with large brewers for costly shelf space, it would have little to no benefit for microbreweries.
David Wilkes, senior vice-president of government relations and the grocery division at the Retail Council of Canada, has reportedly said that some of the province’s largest grocery companies, including Loblaws, have been asked to appear before a governmentappointed panel to discuss ways of modernizing Ontario’s liquor sales.
In fact, many industry stakeholders and potential stakeholders have been asked to appear before the same panel to answer questions about potential changes to the way the province sells alcohol.
Last month, Premier Kathleen Wynne said Ontario is not going to allow the sale of alcohol in more corner stores, an admission that deflated any hope the Ontario Convenience Store Association had that beer and wine could soon be on shelves in its stores.
The association was quick Friday to jump on the rumour that Loblaws, Sobeys, Metro and other large grocers could be allowed to start stocking beer and wine. The association said any such arrangement would create an unfair advantage for their big competitors.
“Large convenience stores are in fierce competition with grocery stores — especially in urban centres,” the association said in a statement. “Government understands that there is tough competition between convenience stores and grocery stores and that it needs go about expanding beer retailing fairly so it doesn’t give mega-corporations an unfair advantage over other businesses.”
The association also argued that its members have more experience in checking identification and screening buyers, as they sell lottery tickets and tobacco already, and that 219 convenience stores across the province are already licensed to sell booze as “LCBO Agency Stores.”
“Chain convenience stores have more experience selling alcohol than any other private retailer. We can do this responsibly and it’s something we’re going to keep talking about because it’s important to our customers and our industry,” said the association.
Among the critics was also the union representing Ontario public servants.
In a statement expressing several criticisms, the union went so far as to say the move could lead to more violence against women.
“Making alcohol more readily available will contribute to more violence in the province, particularly violence against women. We know alcohol contributes to violence, and this makes us question Premier Kathleen Wynne’s commitment to making women in this province safer,” said Warren (Smokey) Thomas, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union.
When queried by reporters after the release of the province’s employment statistics Friday, Economic Development Minister Brad Duguid wouldn’t confirm the alcohol reports, however he did say change was coming as part of the Liberals’ annual budget, which is scheduled to be released in the coming weeks.