By Dylan O’Hagan [1]
BELLEVILLE –There is a chance that you will be able to buy six-packs of beer in Metro [2] and Walmart [3] by December.
They are among the first retailers given the green light to sell suds in grocery stores across Ontario, which was announced Wednesday by the provincial government.
The changes are part of the province’s plan to sell beer in 60 grocery stores year’s end and eventually 450 grocery stores across Ontario. More choice and convenience is one reason for the change, but public safety is still a priority, said Ontario’s minister of finance, Charles Sousa.
“We are moving quickly to ensure that beer will be sold in grocery stores in a socially responsible manner,” he said in a press release.
These stores will have to follow strict regulations for selling alcohol safely. Designated areas, restricted hours, limited package size and social responsibility training are required by the grocery retailers in order to sell beer.
The next step for these companies is to apply to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario [4] to sell beer in individual store locations.
Other grocery stores, which won the initial bid and could be selling beer across Ontario, include Sobeys, Loblaws and Farm Boy.