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Shelves yet to be stocked with beer at Oakville stores by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff 11 | Thursday, December 17, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com With the laws in place and a quartet of Halton grocery stores participating, local residents should soon be able to buy beer at a supermarket -- as soon as it's in stock at all the participating stores. For now, of the trio of grocery stores in Oakville, one in Milton and another in Georgetown, authorized to sell beer, only the Halton Hills store has it in stock. "Beer is here -- in grocery stores just in time for the holidays. As we continue with the largest shakeup to beverage alcohol sales in Ontario since the end of Prohibition, people are going to enjoy increasingly convenient access to their favourite beers and more choice in where they can buy them," said Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne in a statement issued Tuesday. However, beer was not yet in stock at four of the five Halton-based stores that have been authorized to sell beer. While The Real Canadian Superstore in Georgetown (171 Guelph St.) had beer on its shelves Tuesday, Oakville's Longo's (3455 Wyecroft Rd. and 469 Cornwall Rd.) and FreshCo (2501 Third Line), and Metro in Milton (1050 Kennedy Circle) didn't have any available for customers just yet. Robert Koss, the director of consumer promotions for Longo's told the Oakville Beaver Wednesday its participating Oakville locations won't have any in stock until early 2016. The stores are planning how it will be displayed inside with consumer safety at the top of their mind, he said. Mark Bernhardt, a communications specialist with Metro Ontario told the Beaver Tuesday, its participating stores were given a licence to purchase beer in the morning and orders have been placed for its Food Basics locations in London, Niagara Falls, Hamilton and Orillia. "It does take about one to two weeks for beer to arrive in stores, so beers are not currently for sale at our locations yet," he said. Further details about beer sales at Metro locations and other supermarket chains it owns, including the one in Milton, will be available in the new year, Bernhardt noted. In total, 58 grocery store locations across Ontario have been given the green light to sell beer. "We are expanding the availability of beer in a prudent and socially-responsible way. Wherever you buy beer, please continue to drink responsibly," said the Premier. Oakville MPP and Labour Minister Kevin Flynn added by offering more choice, Ontario is making it "easier for Oakville residents who want greater access to their favourite beers through their local grocery store. "This is great news for beer consumers in Oakville and supporters of craft breweries, especially as we head into the busy holiday season. Now and throughout the year, we remind everyone to always drink responsibly," he said. This is the first round of Ontario's commitment to make it more convenient for people to buy beer. The expansion will continue with the alcoholic beverage to be available at up to 450 grocery stores province-wide, which is roughly the same number of locations The Beer Store is currently operating in Ontario. "Ontario's new beer framework is really opening up opportunities for businesses across the province. From our enthusiastic independent grocers to our dynamic craft brewers -- we are enabling innovation and improved convenience and choice across Ontario," said Finance Minister Charles Sousa. Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers Vice-President Gary Sands said independent grocers are thrilled there's another way consumers can support them through the purchase of their favourite beer in its stores. "Grocery retailers look forward to increasing consumer choice and convenience in a responsible way as Ontario rolls out the sale of beer in grocery stores," added David Wilkes, senior vice-president of the Retail Council of Canada in a press release. "Going forward, Ontario shoppers will be able to buy beer in grocery stores across the province and select from a variety of craft and major brand products. The Retail Council of Canada will continue to work with our members and the Province to ensure this new initiative is a positive experience for consumers." The 58 locations selling six-packs will be monitored by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario to ensure those participating grocery stores adhere to laws on the safe retail of alcohol. Rules include having designated sale areas and hours of sale, limitations to package sizes and alcohol content by volume, and rigorous social responsibility training for staff. Giving consumers more choice and convenience, while creating a more level playing field for brewers is part of the provincial government's plan to build up Ontario, a press release stated. To support Ontario's craft beer industry, at least 20 per cent of grocers' shelf space for beer will be dedicated to small brewers' products. Ontario Craft Brewers President John Hay said the group he represents is looking forward to working with grocers to offer a refreshing variety of craft beer from breweries across Ontario. "This new distribution channel is part of a set of changes that will create jobs and double or triple Ontario's craft beer industry," he said. For more information, visit ontario.ca/ morechoice. ENJOY... 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