Ford delivers on ‘buck-a-beer,’ but not to corner stores
Premier touts move as relief to Ontarians wanting cheap brews
Premier Doug Ford has delivered on his campaign pledge of a “buck-a-beer,” but his promise to expand sales of six-packs and wine to corner stores may be harder to keep.
On Monday, Ford touted the government’s reduction of the minimum legal price of beer in Ontario from $1.25 for a 341 mL bottle or 355 mL can to $1as one of the “kitchen table issues that people want to get done.”
“We put this out there (during the June 7 election campaign) … and all I heard everywhere I went was ‘buck-a-beer, buck-abeer, buck-a-beer,’” the premier told reporters at Cool Beer, a boutique brewery in Etobicoke.
“This gives a little relief to people across Ontario that want to go in, buy a cold beer, go to the grocery store, buy some steaks, go home and have a cold beer,” said Ford, who himself does not consume alcohol or eat red meat.
Asked when the Progressive Conservative government would implement his related election vow to sell beer and wine in convenience stores, the premier passed the microphone to Finance Minister Vic Fedeli.
“Obviously, we campaigned on bringing beer and wine to corner stores so it’s something that we’re looking at,” said Fedeli. “We’re developing our thoughts on it now and we’ll continue to talk to the industry and have more answers on that later,” he said.
“We haven’t turned our mind to as much as this point. We’ll have more to say on it later. Beer and wine in corner stores will be at a corner store near you in the future.”
In 2015, the previous Liberal government signed a 10-year contract with the Beer Store, which is owned by the major breweries, to allow 450 supermarkets to sell six-packs.
Under that accord, there are hefty financial penalties for any “breach” of the agreement.
Despite his lowering of the “floor price” of beer, Ford said he is not worried about an increase in impaired driving.
“I think we’re responsible enough. We’re adults. We know we can’t drink and drive. It’s very simple. Whether it’s a buck or a buck 25, we can’t be drinking and driving,” he said.
The government has no plans to reduce the minimum legal prices for wine or spirits.
Ford insisted he is not disappointed that few breweries are taking advantage of the new measure.
So far, Cool Lager is selling four-packs for $4.40 ($1 a bottle plus 10 cents deposit), and Barley Days Brewery of Picton is offering its Loon Lager for $1.10 (including deposit) at 132 of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario’s 650 stores.
As well, for a limited time, President’s Choice will sell seven varieties of its beer for a $1 a bottle — $13.20 for a 12-pack, including deposit, down from $20.95.
But the major brewers — AB InBev, Molson Coors and Sleeman Breweries — and the rest of Ontario’s craft breweries are not participating.
Cool’s corporate development officer Kevin Meens emphasized “quality and price shouldn’t be in the same sentence,” because inexpensive beer is not cheaply made.
“If it’s $1 or $3, it really doesn’t matter. The formula doesn’t change. When you make a premium beer, the hops and the barley that you’re going to put in there, it’s roughly about four or five cents per bottle,” said Meens.
“That’s not where the major cost is,” he said.
Provincial and federal taxes account for 33 per cent of the cost of beer. NDP MPP Bhutila Karpoche (Parkdale-High Park) questioned the new government’s priorities.
“While spending on beer subsidies, Ford is cutting mental health funding by $330 million every year and ... is cancelling much-needed school repairs,” said Karpoche.
“Ontarians deserve a government that invests in their priorities, not in pet projects cooked up in back rooms to benefit just a few insiders.”