TORONTO — Ontario's premier made history Tuesday simply by purchasing a six-pack of beer at a Toronto grocery store, something that hasn't been legal in the province since Prohibition.
Kathleen Wynne, 62, smiled when she was asked for proof of age as she purchased a pack of Rhyme & Reason from Toronto's Collective Arts Brewing at a Loblaws store, starting the long-promised rollout of beer sales in select grocery outlets across the province.
"It's nice to be carded," she joked with the cashier before announcing that 58 grocery stores across Ontario can now legally sell beer.
"Today the wait is over. Beer is here, in grocery stores, just in time for the holidays."
The Liberal government's goal is to have six-packs of beer available at 58 grocery stores by the end of this year — 13 of them independents — and eventually expand to 450 grocery retailers, both large and small, by 2017. That's roughly the same number of retail outlets the Beer Store currently operates in Ontario.
Ontario now joins Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador, two provinces that also sell beer in grocery stores. New Brunswick sells a limited selection of wines at some grocery stores, while Ontario sells Canadian wines at some grocery stores and at Wine Rack locations.
It's all about making life easier for people who lead very busy lives, said Wynne.
"Anything that government can do to help people save a little more of their time is worthwhile, is what government's should be doing," she said. "It's also one of the main reasons that we have embarked on the biggest shakeup to alcohol sales since the end of Prohibition."
The other reason, said Wynne, is fairness, insisting the government was creating a level playing field for brewers big and small. At least 20 per cent of grocers' shelf space for beer must be dedicated to products from small brewers.
"So that the province's incredible craft brewers can continue to grow in a fair and efficient beer market," said Wynne.
In addition to allowing sales of six packs at some grocery stores, selected LCBO stores will sell six and 12-packs of beer, but the foreign-owned Beer Store will retain exclusive rights to sell cases of 24.
The government didn't want to "blow up" the Beer Store's cost-effective distribution network, which keeps Ontario beer prices among the lowest in Canada, said Wynne.
"And the Beer Store is returning to its co-operative roots by opening up ownership to all Ontario-based brewers, and that was the original impetus behind Brewers Retail," she added.
Finance Minister Charles Sousa said the government would be appointing a beer ombudsman in January.
"I'm encouraged by how much interest there seems to be in this position," he said.
Last month, the government announced 13 grocery stores chains were chosen to sell beer in the first round, including retail giant Walmart, Metro Ontario and Sobeys. Of the initial 58 beer licences, 13 went to independents including Starsky Fine Foods in Hamilton, Pino's Get Fresh in Sault Ste. Marie and J-&-B La Mantia in Lindsay.
Not all of them were immediately ready to start selling beer.
"We understand from some of the outlets that it's going to take them a few days to get up and running, but they can order the beer today," said Wynne.
Loblaws announced Tuesday that beer is now available in 19 of its outlets, including some Real Canadian Superstore, Your Independent Grocery and Fortinios locations.
"As our display space expands into the new year, we anticipate we'll offer over 200 varieties of domestic, imported and local beers in our stores," said Loblaw's COO Grant Froese. "And we have the opportunity for regional favourites on a store by store basis."
Wynne again rejected the idea of selling beer in corner stores — something first promised by the Liberal government of David Peterson 30 years ago — warning "the price of beer would go up if you put it in convenience stores."
Just minutes after the first beer sales at an Ontario grocery store, Wynne was asked why grocers couldn't also sell marijuana once the federal government legalizes it.
The premier said Monday "it makes a lot of sense" to have the LCBO sell marijuana because of its secure distribution network and history of socially responsible sales.
"I think leaving it to random distribution is not acceptable," she said Tuesday. "It is going to have to be controlled in some way, and I'll await the federal government's direction on that."
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE DIFFERENT RULES ACROSS CANADA FOR THE SALE OF ALCOHOL
Ontario allowed the sale of beer in grocery stores for the first time Tuesday and is still looking at ways to expand wine sales to more private outlets. The rollout follows a deal with the Beer Store, which will eventually see 450 grocery stores — large and small — sell beer by 2017.
Here's how alcohol is sold in other Canadian provinces:
— British Columbia: Beer, wine and spirits are sold in provincially-owned and private liquor stores. Craft beer can be purchased at the brewery.
— Alberta: Beer, wine and spirits are sold in privately owned liquor stores.
— Saskatchewan: Beer, wine and spirits are sold at provincially owned liquor stores, rural franchises licensed by the government, and in three privately owned stores. Beer, wine and spirits are also available at various "off sales'' attached to bars and restaurants.
— Manitoba: There is a mix of government-run and private wine and beer stores. Hotels are allowed to sell beer as licensed vendors, similar to "off sales.''
— Quebec: Beer and wine are sold in grocery stores and corner stores. Wine, spirits and select beer are sold in government-run outlets.
— Nova Scotia: Beer, wine and spirits are sold at provincially owned liquor-store outlets. Some beer, wine and spirits are available at some private stores.
— New Brunswick: Beer, wine and spirits are sold in provincially owned liquor store outlets. A limited selection of wines is available at some grocery stores.
— Prince Edward Island: Beer, wine and spirits are sold at provincially owned liquor store outlets and a number of licensed agency stores.
— Newfoundland and Labrador: Beer is available in various convenience stores. Liquor and beer are sold at provincially owned liquor store outlets. Wine is only sold at provincially owned liquor store outlets.
