OCSA Petitions for Alcohol Sales at C-Stores

A Toronto Star op-ed by Dave Bryans of the Ontario Convenience Store Association argues for the modernization of Ontario's liquor laws.

July 26, 2012

TORONTO - An op-ed earlier this week in the Toronto Star by Dave Bryans, CEO of the Ontario Convenience Stores Association (OCSA), argues for the modernization of the province??s alcohol retailing system.

"The alcohol retailing system in Ontario today is essentially the same one created by the Ontario government 85 years ago," Bryans writes. "But while the rest of Canada and jurisdictions around this province have modernized their alcohol retailing systems, Ontario??s remains a relic of the past."

Bryans says Ontario??s system of alcohol retailing is "awkward and inconvenient." As a result, "it??s clear Ontario wants change."

He added that the province should broaden its retailing system, and he helped unveil a petition yesterday signed by 112,500 Ontarians who signaled their support for beer and wine in convenience stores.

"The people who signed this petition aren??t special interest groups. They??re voters and community members??they??re responsible adults who want to leave the car at home once in a while and walk to their neighborhood convenience store to get drinks for that BBQ with friends," Bryans said, adding "a large proportion of the population" supports alcohol retailing to be broadened to include convenience stores.

"Now is the time to have the discussion on expanded alcohol retailing in Ontario," Bryans concludes. "The public wants it, a number of convenience stores in Ontario already sell alcohol, and our industry has shown we can sell age-restricted products responsibly. But change is hardest where there??s history and Ontarians are facing 85 years of entrenched business, political and government interests. Our hope is the 112,500 Ontarians who are putting their voice forward at Queen??s Park can be the next step forward toward a goal that millions of people in the province support."

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