Cheers to compromise.
Ontario grocers and The Beer Store have reached a tentative deal on a problem that’s been brewing for months: Who is going to collect your empties?
As of Jan. 1, grocery stores across the province were supposed to be ready to accept empty alcohol containers — all part of the Ford government’s expansion of booze sales to grocery and convenience stores.
Grocers big and small were never keen on the plan, citing increased costs — not to mention the health and safety risks of having dirty, empty containers near food and other items. In fact, some grocers had threatened to cancel their liquor-selling licences if a compromise wasn’t reached.
This week, all sides reached an agreement in principle.
The details are still being worked out, but here’s the gist: consumers will continue to exchange empties for their deposits at Beer Store locations, while grocers pay the brewers a fee depending on how much alcohol they sell at their stores.
Joining us on tonight’s Closer Look to help break down all the details is Gary Sands, vice-president of policy and advocacy with the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers.
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