McGuinty Sounds Off
July 9th, 2008
Premier Dalton McGuinty has made comment on the recent pressure from certain groups to change the way you and I in Ontario buy beer.
There has been some pressure to remove the monopoly that is held by The Beer Store on Ontario beer buyers. When asked is the system should change at a news conference McGuinty said “No, I like the system as it’s found at present,” he said “I don’t think consumers would tell us that. Certainly, Ontarians are not delivering that kind of a message to me.”
Some think The Beer Store is not good for Canada being a foreign-owned operation, it’s a joint venture by American-owned Molson, Belgian-owned Labatt, and Japanese-owned Sleeman. But let’s not forget that all of those were Canadian companies before they were bought by bigger breweries. The Beer Store is also one of Ontario’s rightest supporters and contributors to recycling in Ontario.
Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory also defended The Beer Store but said he’s willing to see change in the area of micro or local breweries. “I’m open to looking at ways in which we can give a fair chance to the craft brewers” by allowing them to sell in corner stores.
Personally I think this is a bad idea. There’s enough underage kids getting cigarettes as it is there’s no need to allow them to get beer as well. There is a better way to help craft brewers. Mandate The Beer Store to drop their prices for entry. Breweries are forced to pay to have thier beers supported in thier local beer store or LCBO. Lower that fee and more Craft beers will be eligible.
Are you serious?
yes.
Please, if you could bring back all deposit cans and bottles to No Frills, they would Ontario’s best recyclers. Now, the only thing I can buy if I bring back bottles….is more alcohol! Why not milk, bread or fruit? In Quebec, this is what happens. And Craft beers don’t mind paying for access, it’s that you are relegated to the back room, while the big foreign companies get all the displays. If your local grocer is responsible enough to prescription drugs, which are far more dangerous, why not beer?
What’s stopping you from taking the money you get from the bottles to the grocery store?
I’m slightly on the fence about the issue in whole. I would really like the benefit of not having to march to the Beer Store or LCBO three blocks away but I believe that the ability to access beer much more easily by minors could pose a problem. BUT deregulation in a whole could fuel our craft brewers that we all love so much.