Ontario Convenience Stores Able to Sell Beer, Wine, Cider and Ready-to-Drink Alcoholic Beverages

The Ontario Government has permitted all licensed convenience stores in the province to sell beer, cider, wine and ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages effective immediately, announced on Thursday.

Doug Ford, Ontario Premier (left) and Peter Bethlenfalvy, Ontario Minister of Finance (right) making the announcement at a convenience store in Etobicoke. As of Sept. 5, 4,187 convenience stores across Ontario are licensed to sell alcoholic beverages, in addition to nearly 3,000 other licensed retail outlets as well as takeaway options from licensed bars and restaurants. Screenshot.

Doug Ford, Ontario Premier announced the coming of alcohol in convenience stores on Dec. 14 last year.

“Today’s expansion delivers on our government’s promise to give people in Ontario the same choice and convenience enjoyed by people throughout the rest of Canada,” he said. “With today’s announcement, we’re also creating new opportunities to produce and sell world-class Ontario-made beer, wine and ready-to-drink beverages in nearly 4,200 convenience stores across the province.”

By the end of October, as part of the government’s plan to expand alcohol sales, every eligible convenience, grocery and big-box grocery store in Ontario will be able to sell eligible alcohol if they choose to according to a press release.

“People finally have more options to responsibly and conveniently support local Ontario breweries and wineries – or whatever their drink-of-choice may be – even closer to home, and today’s announcement is another milestone in the government’s commitment to deliver more choice and convenience to consumers,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Ontario Minister of Finance. “In addition to supporting Ontario retailers, domestic producers and workers in the alcohol industry, our vision for a better marketplace has come to life thanks to people and businesses across the province.”

The government adds that they are permanently allowing the transfer of wine and spirits between locations with the same owner and/or affiliated licensees to help bars and restaurants effectively manage inventory and is allowing licensed grocery and convenience stores to display alcoholic beverages in multiple areas of a store while maintaining small-producer shelf space requirements as well as policies that will continue to ensure the safe and responsible sale of alcohol.

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Second-Annual I ❤︎ Beer and Taco Festival Returns to the Peterborough Memorial Centre

In what could be a flawless combination, the second-annual I ❤︎ Beer & Taco Festival has returned to the Peterborough Memorial Centre on April 13.

photo courtesy of the peterborough memorial centre.

The festival will contain beer, cider and spirit sampling, games, dancing and tacos.

Tokens are $2.50 and can be purchased on-site or online. They are used for food and drinks.

All general admission tickets include an official 10-ounce I ❤︎ BEER sampling cup. Session one will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. and session two will take place from 5 to 10 p.m.

Tickets start at just $9.99 for Session one and $14.99 for Session two (plus HST and Ticket Fees) and slowly make their way up to our regular ticket price of $18.01/$23.01 (plus HST and Ticket Fees)

The Peterborough Memorial Centre notes that this is a 19+ event. Please drink responsibly.

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Alcohol To Be Available At Convenience, Grocery and Big Box Stores In Ontario Start No Later Than Jan. 1, 2026

Alcohol will be available to purchase at all participating convenience, grocery, and big box stores throughout the province beginning no later than Jan. 1, 2026, as announced by the Ontario Government in Etobicoke on Thursday morning.

Doug Ford, Ontario Premier (left) and Peter Bethlenfalvy, Ontario Minister of Finance (right) making the announcement at a convenience store in Etobicoke. Screenshot.

Alcohol such as beer, wine, cider, coolers, seltzers and other low-alcohol ready-to-drink beverages are at all participating conveniences, grocery stores and big box stores across the province. Spirits such as vodka, whiskey, gin, etc., will continue to be sold at the LCBO, according to Premier Doug Ford.

“We made a promise to the people of Ontario to deliver more choice and convenience,” he said. “Today, we’re delivering on that promise. There’s no reason why Ontario consumers shouldn’t enjoy the same convenient shopping experience as Canadians in every other province when buying some wine for their holiday party or a case of beer or seltzers on their way to the cottage.”

Roughly 8,500 participating stores are participating in the expansion of alcohol being sold in new outlets.

The provincial government has informed Brewers Retail Inc. (The Beer Store) that the Master Framework Agreement (MFA), signed and extended for a decade by the previous government in 2015, limited the number of retail stores that could be authorized to sell alcohol, will not be renewed after it expires on Dec. 31, 2025 according to a press release. However, The Beer Store and LCBO is continuing their retail operations in Ontario’s new marketplace.

“The people of Ontario will soon have more choice and convenience on where they can buy alcohol,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance. “As we move towards implementing this expansion, our government will be taking a responsible, measured approach so we can ensure our transition to a new marketplace is smooth, safe and stable.”

The government’s approach also includes the following initiatives as stated in a press release:

• Competitive pricing: Ontario will introduce competitive pricing to all private retailers to promote competition and a better deal for consumers. LCBO retail stores will maintain consistent pricing across the province to help ensure consumers do not pay more based on where they live, including in rural and northern Ontario. As they do in other provinces, retailers can set promotional prices consistent with relevant regulations. Minimum pricing policies will remain in effect to preserve standards for responsible consumption.

• Pack sizes: Ontario is removing restrictions and exclusivities on pack sizes. Consumers will be able to purchase any pack size, including 12-packs, 24-packs or even 30-packs, as is popular in Quebec of beer, cider and ready-to-drink alcohol beverages at convenience, grocery and big box stores, in addition to the LCBO and The Beer Store.

• Recycling program: The Beer Store has agreed to continue to run the provincewide recycling program for alcoholic beverage containers until at least 2031 as part of a transition period in the new marketplace. This program, which is well-liked and convenient for consumers with hundreds of locations across the province, helps keep costs down for producers and consumers while helping to protect the environment by diverting significant amounts of waste from landfills. The government will consult with retailers and industry stakeholders on the future of recycling and deposit returns to ensure this important feature is maintained beyond 2031.

• Support for local beverage alcohol producers: Ontario will provide a range of transitional and time-limited supports to Ontario-based producers to help with the transition to a more open marketplace, including:

  • Extending dedicated shelf space requirements across all new retailers for craft producers to provide opportunities for small producers to compete

  • Immediately enhancing the Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) Wine Support Program beginning in 2024-25 for up to five years to 2028-29 to support the growth and sale of Ontario-grown VQA wines

  • Extending the Wine Marketing Fund and the Small Cidery and Small Distillery Support Program for up to five years

  • Supporting local economic development by directing the LCBO to promote and prioritize Ontario-made products, producers and workers by providing more and enhanced programs, promotions and strategies to help local producers grow Ontario product sales

  • Establishing a wine and grape industry sector table between government and industry partners

  • Introducing legislation that will, if passed, eliminate the 6.1 per cent wine basic tax at on-site winery retail stores, making Ontario’s tax regime competitive with other provinces, including British Columbia

• Social responsibility: The government is providing an additional $10 million over five years in funding to the Ministry of Health to support social responsibility and public health efforts to ensure alcohol continues to be sold and consumed safely in the expanded marketplace. Existing requirements related to staff training, minimum pricing, hours of sale and warning signs will be maintained and applied to all new retail outlets.

• Wholesale: The LCBO will be the exclusive wholesaler for all retail, bars and restaurants selling alcohol and will offer consumers an extensive array of choices, including domestic and imported products. This structure will continue to offer the benefits of the LCBO’s world-leading purchasing power and economies of scale and ensures sector stability, including maintaining an important employment footprint across Ontario and a significant revenue stream for government so that it can continue to invest in critical frontline services like health care and education. The province is proud of its LCBO workforce and will continue to support them through this transition.

• Distribution: The LCBO will continue to work with producers and retailers to distribute wine and spirits in an expanded marketplace, including retail stores, bars and restaurants. The Beer Store has agreed to maintain its primary role in the distribution of beer to retailers, bars and restaurants until at least 2031 as part of the transition period, helping to provide stability to the sector and frontline workers. The province will also permit more flexible distribution models for small producers.

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First Annual I ❤︎ Beer and Taco Festival Coming to The Peterborough Memorial Centre

Tickets are on sale now for the first annual Peterborough I ❤︎ Beer & Taco Festival at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on April 15.

photo courtesy of the peterborough memorial centre.

Join the festival for a night of beer, cider and spirit sampling, games, dancing and tacos; featuring 18 local vendors and 14 Ontario breweries and 2 distilleries.

Tokens are $2.50 and are used for food and drinks. They are available for purchase at the event by cash only.

All general admission tickets include an official 12 ounce I ❤︎ BEER sampling cup. Session number one will take place from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and session number two from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m.

General admission tickets start at $10 (plus applicable fees and taxes) and are on sale online, over the phone or in-person at the Grant Thornton Box Office. The Box Office is open for in person sales Wednesday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Peterborough Memorial Centre notes that this is a 19+ event. Please drink responsibly.

Visit the 2023 Peterborough I ❤︎ Beer & Taco Festival event page for more information.

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Ontario Restaurants and Bars Able To Serve Alcohol Starting at 7 a.m. for World Cup

Morning brews will be legal at bars and restaurants as the Registrar of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has permitted the sale of alcohol in Ontario to begin at 7 a.m. during the FIFA World Cup 2022 tournament announced on Friday.

File photo.

The sale is during the tournament that runs from Nov. 20 to Dec. 18 and is available only to all liquor sales licensees. This is due to the time zone differences in game broadcasts with some games televised in the early morning. The closing service time of 2:00 a.m. will remain unchanged.

This year’s tournament is in Qatar which is an eight-hour time difference from Ontario. Some matches can start as early as 5:30 a.m. for the province.

Any municipality is allowed to begin liquor service to remain to start at 9 a.m.

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Kawartha Craft Beer Festival Goes Virtual This Year

The 2020 edition of Kawartha Craft Beer Festival will be virtual, and will feature the best of Ontario craft beers, delicious local food, and live entertainment.

In partnership with Electric City Works, the Festival developed an alternate way to bring the event to the community during these uncertain times. Their online store launched June 1st, and allows guest to browse beer and cider options and choose mixed packs that suit their beer style preferences. The mixed packs will feature beer and cider exclusively from our 2020 Beer Fest vendors and include many selections that are available only at the breweries. Local restaurants are providing delicious food options to pair well with any craft beer.  

To top it all off, the virtual event will showcase two live shows that can be streamed from the Festival Facebook page. These shows feature Buck Twenty, a band who were recently a 2020 International Songwriter Competition Finalist and whose trademark sound is bursting with harmonies, catchy hooks, as well as the surplus of positive energy they bring to the stage. Buck Twenty’s show will go live on Friday, June 19th from 7:00-8:30 pm. 

The second performance features Practically Hip, Canada’s No. 1 Tragically Hip Tribute band for over 20 years. Join the band in its celebration of all things Tragically Hip at their live show streaming Saturday, June 20th from 7:00-8:30 pm. 

“We are thrilled that we’re able to continue with the Festival this year”, says Kim Cranfield, Director, Kawartha Craft Beer Festival. “We’ve had incredible support from the community over the years and we’re just so happy to support the local breweries, restaurants and musicians, and hope we can bring together craft beer lovers this Fathers Day Weekend."

Online ordering is now open and orders will be ready for pickup Friday, June 19th from 12:00-5:00 pm and Saturday, June 20th from 12:00-5:00 pm at Electric City Works (200 Charlotte Street, Peterborough). Guests can now also have their orders delivered for a small fee through a partnership with Y Drive Ptbo, to help share the Festival with even more craft beer fans.  

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Publican House Brewery Wins 3 Medals At The 2019 Ontario Brewing Awards

Peterborough-based Publican House Brewery took home three medals at the 2019 Ontario Brewing Awards in Toronto on Thursday (September 12th).

They won a gold medal for their Henry’s Irish Ale in the American Brown Ale category, a silver medal for their Flagship brand Pub House Ale in the Kölsch category, and a silver medal for their seasonal brew Brut Ale in the Experimental Beer category.

From Left: Samantha Brown, Derek Murray, Kevin Buckle and Kevin Picken

“We are very pleased to have won three medals at this year’s Ontario Brewing Awards in recognition of both our traditional beer styles and one of our new beer recipes,” says Kevin Buckle, Head Brewer at Publican House.

“Our focus has always been on producing high quality beer, so to be recognized by our industry peers is particularly gratifying. And we are also thankful for the support of our community to help us get where we are today.”

The Ontario Brewing Awards, organized by TAPS Media, were held in Toronto at the Berkeley Church.

Ontario craft brewers entered their beer in more than 40 different categories that were judged by Beer Judge Certification Program certified judges to celebrate the best in Ontario craft beer.

Here are pictures of the Publican winners…

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Cheers To Iconic KLB Brewery & Its Raspberry Wheat Beer Coming Home To Kawarthas

A blast from the past is making a return to Peterborough & the Kawarthas, with the news that the iconic KLB Raspberry Wheat Beer is coming home to brew here after 17 years away.

“Kawartha Lakes Brewing started in Peterborough in 1996 and began brewing Raspberry Wheat along with other brands,” Kim Cranfield, Marketing Director of Publican House Brewery, tells PTBOCanada. ”They closed their doors in 2002, and since then Amsterdam Brewing in Toronto has been brewing the Raspberry Wheat. We've been working with them for some time and now have the rights to produce and distribute this beer, and have begun brewing it back in Peterborough in our brew house.”

Photo courtesy Publican House Brewery

Their vision of bringing it back home was realized with Publican House’s first batch of KLB Raspberry Wheat brewed in their Brew House in May. KLB Raspberry Wheat is one of the original fruit flavored wheat beers made in Ontario, and has won many awards and accolades over two decades.

It is lightly hopped with a high percentage of wheat malt, and a pure raspberry extract is added in the final stages of the brewing process. This brew is light amber, with a frothy white head. It is a crisp, full bodied brew with a unique raspberry aroma and a satisfying wheat finish.

KLB Raspberry Wheat, which is brewed and packaged out of the Publican House Brewery, is available in their Retail Store, Brew Pub, LCBO, The Beer Store, Grocery Stores and select restaurants and pubs near you.

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