CRAIGLEITH – As Ontarians prepared for the first long
weekend of the summer season, a few Mac's "agency" stores stocked up on beer, wine and spirits.
The Mac's agency stores in Craigleith and Thamesford are
permitted to sell alcohol products under Ontario's Liquor Control Act. Mac's
has operated an agency store in Craigleith since 2002. The Thamesford store
opened in December, 2012.
"We have a great supply of beer, wine and spirits at
our Craigleith location," said Tom Moher, vice president of operations at
Mac's Convenience Stores Inc. "We're ready and eager to serve our valued
customers."
Moher, who oversees all 547 Mac's stores in the province,
calls it "unfortunate" that the threat of a LCBO strike has caused
thousands of Ontarians to be concerned about having an adequate supply of
alcohol products to serve family and friends during the Victoria Day long
weekend. He foresees the day when alcohol products are sold at Mac's stores
throughout the province.
"Certainly, the people of Ontario want it," he said.
"A recent survey conducted by the Ontario Convenience Stores Association
(OCSA), indicates that 67% of Ontarians want to be able to purchase alcohol
products at their local convenience store."
Indeed, more than 115,000 Ontarians have signed a "Free
Our Beer" petition, accessible at convenience stores throughout the
province and online, requesting that the Government of Ontario permit beer,
wine and liquor sales at convenience stores throughout the province. The highly
successful "Free Our Beer"
campaign, organized by the OCSA, is generating a great deal of attention.
"The people of Ontario are telling their politicians
that it's time to modernize alcohol retailing in this province," said
Moher. "Mac's is fully supportive of that change; we want to be part of an
expanded system that generates additional revenue for the Ontario government.
And the benefits go beyond additional revenue - they include the money the
government can save by letting the private sector build facilities for the sale
of beer, wine and liquor."
Currently, the company's CT division operates 665 corporate
stores in Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador, which can sell beer. The
company also sells beer at 3,000 stores in the United States, and 1,400 in
Europe.