TheStar.com: What's your view of The Beer Store?

Toronto Star business writer Dana Flavelle asks local beer drinkers in Toronto what they think of The Beer Store. See TheStar.com for more news. (July 5, 2008)

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Toronto
• Ontario
• beer
• store
• liquor
• booze
• alcohol

[decibel333]

Budweiser is King of Crap... whether it be American or (Budvar) Czech... as far as Canadian beers go, "Canadian" is near to the worse of the lot, so don't judge them all by that 4 day-brewed rat piss. Try some microbrewed stuff like Steam Whistle or Cameron's and see what good Canadian beer is really like!

[MFairbanks88]

Only in Canada would the comments argue about beer instead of about whether the Beer Store should have a monopoly on selling beer in Ontario.

[Dean042]

Brewer's Retail is a 100% foreign-owned monopoly. It keeps prices high and is operated by unionized workers who don't care if customers find prices too high. Beer should be sold in corner stores, but I don't think Ontarians will see it anytime soon. Marché Gravelle in Aylmer, Quebec sells the same beer as across the river in Ontario but significantly cheaper. They sell what people want, what they actually drink. It's cold, cheap and convenient. We've been getting hosed for years in Ontario...

[ralphyization]

@MFairbanks88 It's the most efficient way, to deliver the most brands, and still recycle about 98 % of the containers. If it goes to convenience stores, you will get about 4 or 5 brands at a higher price, my friend. The cost of beer comes PRIMARILY from TAXES, not the distribution system. If you want a micro-brew, like Steamwhistle, for example, you will NOT get it at a Macs.  Pros and cons, both sides, for sure, but think first....

[PyroChemicals2]

The solution is that Canadians stop buying at liquor board stores. Of course, since Canadians are a bunch of tools who allow themselves to get mercilessly ripped off (No, not all of that money is going to building hospitals... in fact, MOST of it is being pissed away), this will never happen, and the liquor boards will keep personally profiting billions.

[riotuesday]

This is insane! The LCBO was created and is based off of an antiquated law that was meant to appease the 51% of Ontarians that wanted complete abstinence. " Let's keep it public; "more selection" This is all just "Socialist" union propoganda. The "bad type" of socialist. The LCBO is a monopoly. OPSEU monopolizes the wokforce at the LCBO. It doesn't get any worse. The Ontario prohibition referendum of 1924 should be repeated with a 3rd option for private sale of alchohol in Ontario.

[ralphyization]

What people do NOT realize, is that if the beer store folded tomorrow, and convenience and grocery stores were selling it, there would DEFINITELY be LESS selection. Do you really think the major chain stores would carry 468 brand/size combinations? not likely. The price would only RISE, because our cost of distribution remains relatively low. example, in a city with 4 beer stores, now , there are 200 places to deliver to. The buck gets passed.

[carmie1818]

@ryan84160 I live in Ontario, so I guess I'm limited to dog fish head...and good point re the beer store...its existence is likely the main reason why there isn't more micro-breweries in our country.

cheers.

[ryan84160]

@carmie1818 They are all available in other provinces. The only one available in Ontario is dog fish head I believe at the LCBO, but I think it would be something you would have to ask to get shipped to your LCBO unless you live in a large city. This is why need to get rid of the beer store, it is so hard to get your hands on good beers. Or at the very least they should have a separate beer store owned by the Ontario craft brewers association that specializes in craft beers.

[carmie1818]

@ryan84160 are any of those 3 American beers you mentioned available in Canada?

[ryan84160]

@carmie1818 Most Americans drink shitty mass produced beer, but the exact same is true of Canada. There is a small (although growing at a fast rate)portion of people in both counties that are drinking incredibly well crafted beers.

[ryan84160]

@carmie1818 Stella is actually probably one of the best mass produced lagers, but thats not saying all that much. I was I was really trying to say that you would be a complete fucking moron to judge Belgian beer off of Stella. If you compare it to Westmalle, Chimay, Brasserie des Roc, La choueffe it is like night and day. Its also night and day if you try to compare bud/miler/coors to Stone,Dog Fish head,New Belgium or any other good american craft beer.