Convenience store busted for allegedly selling alcohol before Ontario government expansion

A Toronto convenience store has had its liquor and lottery licenses suspended after being caught selling alcohol weeks before the province's official rollout of beer, wine, and ready-to-drink beverages to corner stores.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), the Crown agency responsible for managing licenses, reported that an inspector conducted an unannounced visit to an Etobicoke store on August 16. During the visit, the inspector discovered that the store was selling alcohol ahead of the Ford government’s official start date of September 5. Additionally, the store was selling liquor, which is legally restricted to LCBO locations, and there were issues with how the store had acquired the alcohol it was offering for sale.

The store involved, Mabelle Tuck Shop, is located near the intersection of Islington Avenue and Bloor Street West, just north of the Islington Subway Station. The AGCO announced that the store’s alcohol retail and lottery registration has been suspended for three weeks.

“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,” said AGCO CEO Dr. Karin Schnarr 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.”

This enforcement action comes as Ontario proceeds with its plan to liberalize alcohol sales, a move that includes significantly increasing the AGCO’s inspection resources.

Since August, some grocery stores have been permitted to sell more beer, wine, and ready-made drinks. Convenience stores are next in line, set to receive approval in the second of three phases of alcohol expansion. In October, additional grocery stores and big-box outlets will join the list of approved sellers.

This is part of an accelerated agreement in which the government paid $225 million to The Beer Store, enabling a broader distribution of alcohol in the name of convenience. Liquor will remain exclusive to the LCBO, but lower-alcohol drinks will soon be available in other stores across Ontario.

The province expects to add 8,500 new alcohol retailers, with a particular focus on convenience stores. By mid-August, more than half of Ontario's convenience stores had registered to sell alcohol.

To support this expansion, the AGCO’s enforcement budget has been increased by 25 percent.

Convenience stores that have been granted licenses will be authorized to sell alcohol starting September 5.