No doubt thousands of Ontario residents hoisted a beer, glass of wine or a cooler to salute the news that within two years, it will be easier to buy alcohol across the province.
Consumers are not the only winners, notes Dave Bryans, outgoing CEO of the Ontario Convenience Stores Association.
Bryans predicts alcohol will be anywhere from between 15 and 30 per cent of sales in convenience stores. He adds, “I think you will see a whole different look as we see in Quebec and Newfoundland on beer sales.”
The move by Premier Doug Ford has come after more than a decade of negotiating, points out Bryans.
He cautions that the devil is in the details. Still to be worked out are issues like staff training, distribution to retail outlets and pricing.
Concerns have been voiced in some quarters about the move potentially making it easier for minors to purchase wine and beer. However, Bryans stresses convenience stores are effective when it comes to age testing.
He notes there has not been an issue in the 400 LCBO-agency stores across the province.
Once that product begins arriving at retail outlets, what does that mean for the look of convenience stores?
Will this new freedom result in job cuts at The Beer Store as is being warned?
We asked Bryans if his association will establish guidelines or templates for convenience stores to follow?
Bryans concludes, “This is going to put an awful lot of money in their jeans. And every manufacturer and supplier in Ontario will now have more customers than they’ve ever had that used to stand in The Beer Store, in a convenience store buying their products, so I think everybody should come to the table and recognize how beneficial this will be to the business model.”
Written by: Ian McCallum
