Hosers and oenophiles alike rejoiced last week with news that Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne is mulling a plan to expand beer and wine sales to supermarkets, part of a bid to liberalize the province’s antiquated alcohol retailing system and end The Beer Store’s quasi-monopoly. The plan—set to be unveiled in the upcoming budget—will see licences sold at auction, enabling roughly 300 supermarkets province-wide to stock beer and wine, with no single grocer allowed to own more than a quarter of licences, the Toronto Star reports. In addition, The Beer Store would be charged an annual franchise fee and forced to open more shelf space to Ontario craft brewers. We’ll drink to that. [Star]
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