LCBO strike: Grocery stores can sell ready-to-drink beverages starting today

With the LCBO workers’ strike still dragging on, customers may soon be looking forward to a wider selection of alcoholic beverages at their local grocery store.

The 450 Ontario grocery stores licensed to sell alcohol will be allowed to order ready-to-drink beverages and larger beer packs starting today, meaning the drinks could appear on some store shelves relatively soon.

The province had previously set August 1 as the date when grocery stores would be allowed to sell ready-to-drink cocktails, but announced earlier this week that the timeline would be moved up.

Ready-to-drink beverages were at the heart of the LCBO strike, and the Ontario Public Employees Union had previously identified this as a key issue for its members.

Prime Minister Doug Ford, for his part, has said he is not prepared to back down from the government’s plans to allow grocery stores to sell ready-to-drink cocktails.

“If they want to negotiate RTD (ready-to-drink beverages), the deal is off,” Ford told reporters at a news conference in Etobicoke last week. “Let me be very clear. It’s over, it’s over. The ship has sailed. It’s halfway across Lake Ontario.”

Since talks failed, LCBO branches across Ontario have been closed and about 9,000 OPSEU members walked off the job on July 5.

Talks between the union and the province resumed on Wednesday and will continue today, OPSEU told CTV News Toronto.

Meanwhile, the province continues to pursue its plans to expand the sale of certain alcoholic beverages.

A Ministry of Finance spokesperson told CP24.com earlier this week that the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has issued licenses to 3,153 convenience stores to sell beer, wine, cider and ready-to-drink beverages since the application period opened on June 17.

In addition, 54 additional grocery stores were granted licenses.

“In less than two months, on September 5, the Ontario market will reach a new milestone when all eligible convenience stores will be able to sell beer, cider, wine and ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages. As this is the first market segment to be expanded, we are pleased to see so many convenience stores preparing to offer people more choice,” said Colin Blachar. “As the province implements its plan, the government will continue to continually evaluate how it can provide choice and convenience.”

The Ontario government has previously indicated that the LCBO would retain exclusive rights to sell liquor in Ontario, even as it allowed more retailers to sell other alcoholic beverages.