Grocery stores can sell ready-to-drink beverages as of today as LCBO strike continues

Shoppers could soon see an expanded selection of alcoholic beverages at their local grocery store, as a strike by LCBO workers continues to drag on.

Shoppers could soon see an expanded selection of alcoholic beverages at their local grocery store, as a strike by LCBO workers continues to drag on.

The 450 grocery stores that are licensed to sell alcohol in Ontario are permitted to order ready-to-drink beverages and larger packs of beer as of today, meaning that the beverages could start showing up on some store shelves relatively soon.

The province had previously set a date of August 1 to allow grocery stores to sell ready-to-drink cocktails but announced earlier this week that it was moving up the timeline.

Ready-to-drink beverages have been at the forefront of the LCBO strike, with the Ontario Public Service Employees Union previously identifying it as a key issue for his members.

Premier Doug Ford, for his part, has said that he is unwilling to budge when it comes to its government’s plans to allow grocers to sell ready-to-drink cocktails.

“If they want to negotiate over RTD (Ready-To-Drink beverages), the deal is off,” Ford told reporters at a news conference in Etobicoke last week. “Let me be very clear. It is done, it is gone. That ship has sailed. It’s halfway across Lake Ontario.”

LCBO outlets across Ontario have been shuttered since talks broke down and about 9.000 OPSEU members walked off the job on July 5.