Beer and wine have been available to purchase from grocery store shelves across Ontario for years. But despite promises to expand access to spirits, this has not happened yet. Ontarians deserve the freedom and convenience of buying their spirits where they want. It’s time to make it happen. Join the campaign today and tell your MPP you support spirits in grocery stores in Ontario.
Grocery stores offer most Ontarians a quick and convenient one-stop-shop to get all the things they need. The days of making multiple stops in multiple shops just to prepare for one dinner party are long gone. One run to the grocery store and you’re able to bring home almost anything, from ice cream and laundry detergent to beer and wine. Except for spirits and other spirits-based beverages. Ontarians who enjoy their spirits after a long day or a refreshing cocktail on a summer evening still need to make additional trips to the nearest liquor store. That does not make sense. It’s time for Ontario to do what other jurisdictions have been doing for a long time and allow the sale of spirits in grocery stores.
Grocery stores across Canada offer a variety of essentials to Ontarians every day. One run to the grocery store and you’re able to bring home almost anything, from ice cream and laundry detergent to beer and wine. But when it comes to spirits, Ontarians are required to take an extra trip to the liquor store. It’s time that be better spent on anything. The pandemic has taught all of us that limiting grocery trips is not just convenient, its safe. Making spirits available in grocery stores just makes sense. The pandemic has brought new challenges to Ontario’s economy. This simple change is one example of how Ontario can build back better. For Ontario consumers and our economy, it’s time to put spirits in grocery.
Grocery stores across Canada offer a variety of essentials to Ontarians every day. One run to the grocery store and you’re able to bring home almost anything, from ice cream and laundry detergent to beer and wine. But when it comes to spirits, Ontarians are required to take an extra trip to the liquor store. It’s time that be better spent on anything. The pandemic has taught all of us that limiting grocery trips is not just convenient, its safe. Making spirits available in grocery stores just makes sense. The pandemic has brought new challenges to Ontario’s economy. This simple change is one example of how Ontario can build back better. For Ontario consumers and our economy, it’s time to put spirits in grocery.
It’s inconvenient.
Spirits and spirits-based beverages are among the only consumables that can only be purchased at liquor stores across the province. As of 2023, there are about 600 of these stores in Ontario, while there are about 10 times as many grocery stores. In many communities, reaching a liquor store requires a long drive, sometimes to another neighbouring community or municipality. To make matters worse, liquor store opening hours are another constraint many Ontarians have to deal with when purchasing spirits. This system is needlessly cumbersome and rigid. Expanding spirit sales in grocery stores would provide more options and flexibility for most Ontarians. It’s time to make the system more convenient.
It is not environmentally friendly.
For most Ontarians, needing to buy spirits often means needing an additional drive to the liquor store. More trips mean more impact on the environment and a bigger carbon footprint for every Ontarian. For Ontarians, the average liquor store is 3 kilometers away, which would mean an additional 6 kilometers of driving at a minimum to get there and back. That equates to 1.2 kilograms of carbon dioxide (CO2) per passenger added. Allowing spirits sales in grocery stores would eliminate a big part of these additional trips, resulting in a smaller carbon footprint for many Ontarians.
It doesn’t make sense.
Beer and wine have been available to purchase from grocery store shelves for years across Ontario. In fact, their availability has been gradually expanding to more stores. Many spirits-based drinks, like pre-mixed drinks have an alcohol content that is equal or lower than wine and beer, and yet they still cannot be sold in grocery stores. The difference in treatment makes no sense and is imposing arbitrary restrictions on Ontarians.
