Liberals in Ontario got an e-mail yesterday from Finance Minister Charles Sousa raving about beer being here in 58 Ontario grocery stores. He even notes that it is in time for Christmas. (Now would not a six pack be a perfect gift for the Toronto Star carrier?)
But it sure is tough to figure out what all the silly fuss is about. We now have six packs of beer in one out of every 25 large grocery stores in Ontario. So what? When you check the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario rules of sale, you wonder what is left of the grocery stores’ profit?
And judging by the locations of these 58 stores that Charles so kindly sent us, they are few and far between. Can you imagine the repercussions when the Liberal MPPs in the Scarborough part of Toronto find there is no six-pack grocery store for them?
They should not worry. This fiasco will continue with some news on wines in the New Year. There will also be a few more stores licensed.
But they will only sell six packs of beer. And the prices are fixed across the province. Mind you, you can get Air Miles from Metro and Sobeys and PC Points from the Weston emporiums. Mind you, the Weston people have said that 50 per cent of their beer space will be devoted to craft beers. These craft beers are something of an acquired taste and the Weston’s will find the sales will be heaviest in the same-old, same-old Labatt Blue, Molson Canadian and Coors Light.
In time for the next provincial election in Ontario, we might have six packs and some wine available in as many as one-third of Ontario’s large grocery stores. Small stores need not apply.
Yet there is little being said about whiskey and gin. And not a whisper about brandies, sherries and ports—which can often be an important ingredient in recipes of good cooks. Nor has there been mention of those light summer coolers premixed with vodka or rum.
The problem might just be that we have just six-pack type politicians in Queen’s Park when there should be some Scotch or brandy sippers as well. You should ask your local politicians what their preferred beverage might be when the next election roles around. We need more boozers with broader tastes at Queen’s Park. Then we can get their promise to get this province past its temperance union standards.
-30-
Copyright 2015 © Peter Lowry
Complaints, comments, criticisms and compliments can be sent to [email protected]