Costco, big-box grocery stores now able to sell beer, wine and cider

Starting Thursday all licensed big-box grocery stores in Ontario are now able to sell beer, wine, cider and ready-to-drink beverages.

Premier Doug Ford says this marks the final phase in an expansion in product sales that began in the summer.

The latest expansion will see about 850 stores including big box stores such as Costco to now sell alcohol in large packs of 48 or 60 beverages.

Prior expansions allowed convenience stores to sell alcohol since Sept. 5 and previously licensed grocery stores were able to sell ready-to-drink beverages and large-pack sizes of beer before on Aug. 1.

Ford and Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy toured a Toronto Costco Thursday morning – one of the province’s 41 Costco locations that have signed on to sell alcohol.

“With Costco members, they’re just pumped up right now, I think everyone is,” said Ford. “When they’re here picking up groceries, they can get a case of beer, bottle of wine, some coolers – it’s really good.”

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However, there are concerns that the ford government lacks the health-care plan for alcohol harms as a result of the newly liberated alcohol sales rules.

The Canadian Mental Health Association, The Canadian Public Health Association and the Canadian Cancer Society is warning more death, cancer diagnoses and emergency department strains may occur with the final expansion.

The financial minister said that while he respected these organizations, he said that moving forward with the plan was “non-negotiable.”

“We are also very mindful that we are doing our part on social responsibility, that’s why we’re funding them to the tune of ten million dollars over a period of time so we can get the awareness out to drink responsibly, we do it for gaming as well and we continue that,” said Bethlenfalvy.

Ford’s opposition says his government is focusing on the booze sales expansion instead of the LCBO, small independent businesses and other issues.

MPP John Fraser criticized how disparate the differences were between the premier’s maps to find alcohol, and maps to help find a family doctor. “I challenge you to look for a dot, there are none. That’s because there is no map, that’s cause there is no plan,” he said.

Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles says this expansion is problematic and would be unsurprised if Ford could deliver what was more important for Ontarians.

“The people who are going to suffer are those unionized workers, good union jobs, and those small independent business who I’m hearing from, who are really concerned that they have been left out,” she said.

Bethlenfalvy says for the time being spirits will remain available only at the LCBO.

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With files from The Canadian Press.