Who doesn’t love an ice-cold beer from a bar, a pub, a liquor store… a gas station?

There could soon be up to 8,500 new places to buy low-alcohol drinks in Ontario, thanks to a new plan to speed up an agreement between the province and Beer Store. The cost? At least $225 million of taxpayer money.

Is this accelerated effort to “modernize” the alcohol market simply a play for political points ahead of a possible early election call?

This month, Allison and Jonathan crack a couple of cold ones and pore over the booze clues.

Hosts: Jonathan Goldsbie, Allison Smith

Credits: Sam Konnert (Producer), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief), Max Collins (Production Manager), Nathan Burley (Music)

Background reading:

• Doug Ford's change to booze sales could cost far more than $225M - CBC
• Under the influence: Doug Ford and the strange history of Ontario’s liquor laws - The Globe and Mail
• Ontario has announced big changes to alcohol sales. Here’s how it’ll work - Global

Sponsor: Douglas

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Socials:

Jonathan Goldsbie on Bluesky: @goldsbie.bsky.social

Allison Smith on Twitter: @queensparktoday

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