Ontario has finally recognized that adults do indeed reside within its borders and has begun the arduous process of legalizing beer in grocery stores.
Up to 60 Loblaws, Walmart, Sobeys, and Metro locations, as well as a handful of independent grocers, will be the first supermarkets allowed to sell wobbly pops by the end of December.
“We are moving quickly to ensure that beer will be sold in grocery stores in a socially responsible manner,” said Finance Minister Charles Sousa. “Using the existing low-cost distribution system keeps Ontario’s beer prices below the Canadian average while offering greater ability to fund key government services and programs that people rely on.”
Of the stores that have been granted a license to offer brew, 25 are in the Greater Toronto Area, 16 in southwestern Ontario, and 13 in eastern Ontario. They include Farm Boy, Galleria Supermarket, Hanahreuem Mart, La Mantia’s Country Market, Longo’s, Michael-Angelos Market Place, Pino’s Get Fresh, and Starsky Fine Foods in addition to the aforementioned major chains.
Supermarkets will only be allowed to sell six-packs – The Beer Store will retain the strange, exclusive right to sell 24-packs and most 12-packs in the province – at a maximum daily quota of less than 300. Exactly which brands will be offered remains a mystery.
Baby steps.
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