In early 2023, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and his government were closing in on a framework to greenlight the sale of beer, wine and pre-mixed drinks in convenience and grocery stores across the province, finally delivering a years’ old promise.
As the policy took shape, officials reached out to stakeholders and experts to get their specialist advice on the finer points of the plan. Around April 2023, the government sat down with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Arrive Alive and the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health.
A summary of the advice the Ford government received from the three groups — obtained by Media using freedom of information laws — shows the advocacy groups and experts cautioned the province against moving too quickly, warning that making alcohol more available would come with risks.
Just over half a year later, the government announced it would allow convenience stores across Ontario to sell alcohol by 2026. Months after that, in May 2024, Ford supercharged that timeline, paying The Beer Store $225 million to liberalize alcohol sales beginning in 2024.“They’ve all told the government to go slowly … and none of their recommendations were listened to,” Ontario NDP Health Critic France Gelinas said, after reviewing a copy of the document obtained by Media.
“Not only has everybody told the government, ‘Go slow’ because there is harm that comes with the availability of alcohol and consumption of alcohol, they’ve completely disregarded that, are going fast and at the same time they have not increased the resources for the people who will reach out for help.”A spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance, which is leading the alcohol sales expansion, said the government’s “responsible and balanced approach treats consumers like adults by giving them more choice and convenience.”
The summary of stakeholder feedback obtained by Global News included detailed notes on meetings with MADD, Arrive Alive and CAMH.
During an April meeting with MADD, the advocacy group said it was broadly in favour of allowing the sale of alcohol in grocery stores, something it viewed as “a success.”
The key for further rollouts, according to the document obtained by Media, would be “starting small and going slowly.”
Almost identical advice was given to the government by Arrive Alive, which said it was generally opposed to the policy but understood it was “an inevitability to an extent” that the government would push ahead.“Arrive Alive cautions against going too quickly with implementation; alcohol is widely accessible already,” the government’s notes from the meeting explain.“Ensure gradual roll-out, particularly to convenience stores, to address concerns with expansion of alcohol sales,” the group also advised.