LCBO strike: Strike leads to rising liquor sales at brewery in Brockville, Ontario

For the third day in a row, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) closed all establishments in Brockville, Ontario and the rest of the province after its employees went on strike this weekend.

All 669 retail stores in Ontario remained closed on Friday due to stalled contract negotiations between the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and the provincial government.

In Ottawa, shoppers have the option of driving across the bridge into Quebec and purchasing liquor from the SAQ, the alcohol authority run by the province of Quebec. However, in Brockville, that is not a realistic option.

It was a busy weekend for many local breweries and distilleries in the city.

“It’s definitely an incentive. We’re going to take customers anywhere we can,” said Cassidy King, a waitress at 1000 Islands Brewing Co.

The brewery on King St. West brews and sells its own beer. Since liquor is nearly impossible to buy without an open LCBO, the brewery’s homemade vodka was a hit this weekend.

King says customers were surprised to learn that the restaurant sells its own spirits in addition to beer.

“It’s nice to see people here,” she said. “Usually people didn’t know we were selling our own stuff until they came in and noticed.”

The brewery says it is still receiving product from the LCBO, but like other restaurants, it stocked up on supplies before the strike began on Friday.

LCBO retail stores are expected to remain closed for at least 14 days. However, convenience stores in smaller communities will remain open and online ordering will be possible, subject to product restrictions.

With files from The Canadian Press