Province hopes to have beer in grocery stores by Christmas

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Beer drinkers will soon have more options when it comes to buying their brew. As Brittany Gogo reports, the province hopes to have six-packs of beer for sale in at least 60 grocery stores, by Christmas.

Kathleen Wynne said they are in talks to expand the sale of wine in grocery stores. You can already get it though independent kiosks like the wine rack and wine shop at some grocery stores, so expanding wine sales isn’t expected until later next year. Soon shoppers will be able to add beer to their grocery lists

The province plans to stock six-packs of beer in at least 60 grocery stores by Christmas, and in 450 stores across Ontario within 3 years. “Beer in grocery stores could be seen as a holiday present that many people in Ontario have been waiting for for a long time” said the Premier.

A six-pack in the grocery store will cost you the same as in the LCBO or Beer Store, and the current restrictions on when you can buy beer will still apply. “Our objective was to keep the prices low and a more level playing field.”

By giving local brewers like Collectives Arts – which just opened shop in Hamilton – more growth opportunities. At least 20% of the shelf space must be reserved for beer from craft brewers.

“It’s very exciting to see the change in the Ontario beer market. Its been too long where the sales have been controlled by the multinational brewers” says Matt Johnston from Collective Arts Brewery. “the more you can make craft beer available the better it will be for the economy.”

Another change will allow 9, 000 smaller bars and restaurants to buy beer at retail prices instead of paying premium rates.