Few Ontario grocery stores accepting booze empties, some weigh returning licences [Video]

Very few Ontario grocery stores that are required to accept empty alcohol containers are doing so, leaving the future of the deposit return program in question as The Beer Store closes locations across the province.

Only about 70 grocery stores — ones that are more than five kilometres away from a Beer Store — have been required to take empties since last fall but only four are complying, says The Beer Store, which operates the deposit return system.

On Jan. 1, 2026, all grocery stores selling beer and wine — more than 1,000 are licensed, according to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario — will have to accept bottle returns as part of Premier Doug Ford’s move to speed up the availability of alcohol.

The Ministry of Finance says 13 of the grocery stores are complying and the rest of them with current obligations are “expected to join over …