Tilray Brands - Canned Beverages Premier Doug Ford's government is set to reveal its plan for changing how alcohol is sold in Ontario, including allowing all supermarkets, convenience stores and gas stations to sell beer, wine and canned mixed drinks starting in 2026, industry sources told CBC News.
The plan goes to cabinet on Tuesday and the announcement is to be made on Thursday, multiple sources said.
Three sources in the industry say the key changes include:
Allowing all corner stores and any gas stations that sell food to sell beer, wine, cider and ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages, such as seltzers or premixed cocktails (collectively known as RTDs).
Allowing all grocery stores to sell beer, wine, cider and RTDs, scrapping the existing cap on the number of supermarkets with retail licences.
Ending the restrictions that currently permit only The Beer Store to sell cases of 12 and 24.
The reforms to Ontario's $10-billion-a-year retail alcohol sector won't come unto effect until Jan. 1, 2026, the sources said.
That's because a contract setting out the rules for beer sales in the province remains in force until then. The contract — known as the Master Framework Agreement (MFA) — is between the government and the multinational brewing companies that own The Beer Store.
The government will issue official notice this week that it intends to terminate the agreement when it expires at the end of 2025, the sources said.
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