Ontario, Nova Scotia to allow ‘direct-to-consumer’ alcohol sales

Provincial governments in Ontario and Nova Scotia have signed an agreement which allows consumers to buy alcohol directly from producers in the other province.

According to a release from the Government of Ontario, consumers could previously only buy alcohol from out-of-province producers if it was sold by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO), if it was ordered through the LCBO’s Private Ordering Program or if it was bought out-of-province and shipped by the producer.

The agreement signed on Monday is expected to allow consumers to order alcohol from producers in the other province online and have it shipped to them.

The release from the provincial government also says a system will be implemented to ensure that out-of-province alcohol prices are fair and competitive with local producers.

Alcohol purchased from out-of-province producers is still expected to adhere to the tax rates of the province where it is being sold.

This comes as both Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston look to increase interprovincial trade in the face of the trade war with the United States.

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