7-Eleven lobbying to bring liquor to Saskatchewan stores
Could Saskatchewan be the next province to OK the sale of alcohol in convenience stores? One major retailer wants the government to open up its policy on which businesses can get licensed to stock wine, beer and spirits.
Lobbyists for the 7-Eleven franchise are seeking meetings with government officials from Saskatchewan’s finance and justice departments to discuss liquor law amendments that would allow its stores to become licensed retailers, according to the province’s lobbyist registry.
An Oct. 8 lobbyist registration states that 7-Eleven is advocating for the “modernization of beverage alcohol retailing that includes the convenience retail channel.”
During Saskatchewan’s transition from Crown-owned liquor stores to the current model made up exclusively of private businesses, industry associations had pushed for convenience stores to be included in the expansion of approved retail locations.
But even after the final government-run shops were shuttered in early 2023, only a small number of convenience and grocery stores in rural communities were permitted to stock alcohol, an exemption that had been in place prior to privatization.
Though Saskatchewan has so far passed on the idea, other provinces have been swayed by industry lobbying efforts.
7-Eleven began lobbying the Government of Alberta in 2016 about liquor retailing. In 2021, the province changed its rules to give convenience stores with dining rooms the same liquor licence as restaurants, allowing them to sell booze for takeout and delivery. And in December 2021, a 7-Eleven in north Edmonton became the first Canadian location licensed to sell alcohol.
The province had also considered letting all grocery and convenience stores sell alcohol, but nixed the idea after a review concluded the move would “significantly harm” small businesses.
Lobbying records also show that the company had been trying to influence the Government of Manitoba to loosen its liquor licensing rules for months before a Winnipeg 7-Eleven was allowed to start selling alcohol in December 2024.
The Convenience Industry Council of Canada, of which 7-Eleven is a member, has also been lobbying in Nova Scotia for changes to alcohol sales. Premier Tim Houston had said he was open to the idea of expanding sales to corner stores, but the idea faced strong opposition from local brewers, health advocates and physicians.
Doctors Nova Scotia noted that after Ontario permitted the sale of beer, wine and cider in convenience and grocery stores in 2024, the province recorded a 17% increase in the number of emergency room visits related to alcohol, and warned that the long-term health care and social costs stemming from increased access would outweigh any immediate boost in revenue.
A 2025 survey conducted by the province, the results of which were published in April, found “very little support” for the expanding alcohol to convenience stores, and Houston said his government would not be moving forward with any changes.
The Government of Saskatchewan and 7-Eleven did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication.
