Beverage alcohol in Ontario: Resource
With the Ontario Government announcing May 24th that licensed convenience stores will be able to sell beer, cider, wine able and ready-to-drink cocktails as of September 5, 2024, the industry is shifting into high-gear to take advantage of this long-awaited opportunity.
Things are moving quickly and there's a lot to do and learn in the coming months. With that in mind, we aim to be your go-to resource for the latest news and information.
On this page, we will provide resources and aggregate the barrage of news so you don't have to. Please earmark this page and visit often.
Key dates
June 11, 2024: The Alcohol & Gaming Commission of Ontario hosted a webinar with the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) for convenience and grocery store operators interested in selling beverage alcohol. The webinar will address eligibility requirements, the application process, and legal requirements to become a responsible private retailer of beverage alcohol. *Note, download a copy of the webinar slides below. Watch the video here.
June 17, 2024: The AGCO will begin accepting applications for retail licences from convenience stores and grocery stores.
August 1, 2024: The 450 grocery stores currently licensed to sell beer, cider or wine will also be able to sell ready-to-drink beverages and make available large-pack sizes. **UPDATE, with the LCBO strike, the government has said stores will be able to order RTD cocktails to sell as of July 18.
September 5, 2024: All eligible convenience stores will be able to sell beer, cider, wine, and ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages.
October 31, 2024: All eligible grocery and big-box stores will be able to sell beer, cider, wine, and ready-to-drink beverages, including in large pack sizes.
Helpful links
Watch AGCO and LCBO info webinar here.
Sign up for an iAGCO account here.
Headlines August 2024
CICC launches ID Please: Selling Alcohol Beverages Responsibly training program
7-Eleven Canada readies to sell beverage alcohol in Ontario
CSNC Exclusive Q&A: LCBO’s Leanne Rhee talks about Ontario’s new beverage alcohol market
AhoyLMS launches beverage alcohol StoreServe training program
Headlines July 2024
Convenience stores quickly signing up to sell beverage alcohol in Ontario
Convenience stores quickly signing up to sell beverage alcohol in Ontario
Getting ready to sell beverage alcohol? Lessons from an independent c-store operator
LCBO stores reopen across Ontario after strike
Ontario further speeds up alcohol expansion amid LCBO strike
Ontario Premier says he will not budge on plan to have RTD cocktails sold in c-stores
LCBO stores closed for two weeks as workers strike
Headlines June 22-June 29
Ontario convenience and grocery stores stepping up to apply for alcohol retail licences
Headlines June 8-June 14
Ontario’s expansion of alcohol to convenience stores is a covert union avoidance strategy
Are convenience stores worried about lottery tickets possibly being sold at the Beer Store?
The Beer Store may be allowed to sell more than just beer
How to apply for a licence to sell beer, wine and RTD cocktails in Ontario: CSNC
Disagreement over ‘made-up numbers’ and Ontario’s ‘billion-dollar booze boondoggle’: Global
Headlines May 31-June 7, 2024
LCBO officially launches new online ordering platform for LCOs and licensees
You’re Invited! AGCO-LCBO Education on Alcohol Sales
Beverage Alcohol Marketplace Modernization: Trade Webinar Recording
The Pros and Cons of Alcohol Deregulation
Breaking up the ‘quasi-monopoly’ of beer in Ontario: The Globe and Mail
Fox: Beer will soon muscle aside food in Ontario corner stores: Ottawa Citizen
Headlines May 24-31, 2024
Ontario announces that residents will get beer and wine in corner stores sooner: CSNC
Challenges ahead for early beverage alcohol sales in Ontario: CSNC
A cross-country look at beer and wine in convenience stores: CTV News
Ontario alcohol expansion largest Canadian deregulation policy in decades, report suggests: CTV News
Doug Ford's change to booze sales could cost far more than $225M: CBC
Chris Selley: Beer in corner stores, accomplished in the worst way possible: National Post
Ontario to pay $225-million to Beer Store to speed up corner-store sales: The Globe and Mail
Ontario’s alcohol plan is a bizarre use of money. Here’s why I’m at peace with it anyway