Three weeks after the provincial government began allowing grocery stores to apply for beer, wine, and cocktail licences, independent grocery stores are stating they are steering clear.
“For the independents – that’s 59 per cent of the stores in Ontario – they are really not interested in going near this,” said Gary Sands, senior VP of the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers.
He claims the province has not considered the logistics of allowing customers to return their empty bottles and cans.
“Bringing dirty bottles with cigarette butts in them and wine bottles and containers back into the store, the paramount concern is food safety and cross contamination. The lack of numbers registering for a licence speaks for itself,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ottawa residents have taken the initiative to stock up on alcohol out of province. The Principale St. SAQ in Gatineau saw a steady stream of Ontario licence plates stopping …