7-Eleven chain seeks licence to serve booze

There may be more than just milk, chips and taquitos on offer at Ontario’s 7-Elevens.

The convenience store chain is applying for licences to serve liquor indoors across Ontario, at more than 60 locations, including Toronto, Brampton and Mississauga.

There are three applications before Ontario’s Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO) for Mississauga locations — 6980 Lisgar Dr., 2330 Battleford Rd. and 3965 Thomas St. — all in the city’s northwest end.

Two Brampton 7-Elevens are applying to sell alcohol — 150 Main St. N. and 140 Father Tobin Rd. The five applications are part of more than 60 recently filled by 7-Eleven for indoor alcohol sales across Ontario, with the majority of locations in Toronto.

AGCO is accepting comments and objections on the applications until March 11.

Bars and restaurants in Peel Region have not been permitted to serve alcohol indoors or outdoors on patios since November, when the province put Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon under COVID-19 lockdown rules. Food and drink establishments can open for restricted in-person dining in the red control zone of the province’s COVID-19 framework.

The provincial regulator for controlled substances said in a tweet the 7-Eleven applications were “on-site consumption only and only when that is once again permitted.”

AGCO spokesperson Raymond Kahnert said in an email that means “a space must be created for the sale, service and consumption of alcohol with food,” inside the stores. He also said “take out of alcohol would not be permitted.”

The Ford government announced plans in April 2019 to expand beer and wine sales to corner stores, big-box retailers and more grocery stores.