More than half of Ontario corner stores licensed to sell beer, wine next month [Video]

Convenience stores can start selling alcohol off their shelves in about a month and, so far, more than 3,850 have obtained their liquor licences to do so.

A spokesperson for the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) confirmed to CTV News Toronto that, as of Aug. 12, it had approved 3,866 convenience store licences with about 42 per cent of those licences (1,617 stores) being for gas stations.

That means that more than half of the approximately 6,700 convenience stores in Ontario are already licensed to sell beer, cider, wine and ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages starting Sept. 5, the first Thursday after Labour Day weekend. Newly licensed grocery stores can begin selling the same alcoholic drinks to customers starting Oct. 31.

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The AGCO said stores are barred from selling booze beforehand, even if they have already received their liquor licence.

As the government ramps up its plan to sell alcohol …