Convenience store caught selling booze weeks before rollout in Ontario

Ontario convenience stores can start selling alcohol in a few short days but one shop in Toronto has already had its licence pulled for selling booze weeks early.

On Aug. 16, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario says it conducted an “unannounced inspection” of the Mabelle Tuck Shop located at 24 Mabelle Avenue after learning the store was selling “various alcohol products.”

The inspector found the store violated multiple retail rules, including the sale of alcohol before the province’s expanded liquor retail rules come into effect on Sept. 5, the AGCO said.

The AGCO said the store was also selling spirits, which are not part of Ontario’s newly expanded liquor retail market rules, and liquor that wasn’t purchased through “official LCBO channels.”

The “multiple infractions” under Ontario’s Liquor Licence and Control Act and the Gaming Control Act led the AGCO to suspend the licensee’s alcohol retail licence and their lottery retailer registration for 21 days, the AGCO said.

“As the next phase in Ontario’s expansion of the liquor retail market approaches, the AGCO is focused on ensuring licensees understand and comply with their obligations for the responsible sale of alcohol,” the AGCO said in a statement. “The AGCO has a wide-ranging compliance monitoring process and will take strong measures to enforce social responsibility and ensure a smooth transition to the new, expanded marketplace.”

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Workers at LCBO stores went on strike earlier this year over Premier Doug Ford’s plan to open up the alcohol sales market, with the union saying the expansion poses an existential threat to the LCBO that will lead to major job losses.

Ontario’s new liquor retail rules will see more than 300 stores in Mississauga and Brampton approved to sell beer, wine and ready-to-drink cocktails starting next week, and every convenience, grocery and big-box store will be able to sell booze come October.

The province expects the changes will eventually result in an estimated 8,500 additional stores throughout Ontario where people can purchase alcohol. LCBO locations will continue to be the only places where people can purchase spirits, other than at distillery retail stores and LCBO convenience outlets.

An establishment served with a notice of suspension has the right to appeal it within 15 days to the Licence Appeal Tribunal, the AGCO said.

– With files from Ryan Rocca