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Beer stores are an Ontario thing. Just like in the U.S. liquor laws vary from province to province.
Someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I do believe that no province or territory in Canada has sales of hard liquor in supermarkets or corner stores. In Quebec they do have beer and wine sales at corner stores.
In my province of B.C. private liquor stores and wine shops co-exist with government LCBC shops.
Beer stores are an Ontario thing. Just like in the U.S. liquor laws vary from province to province.
Someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I do believe that no province or territory in Canada has sales of hard liquor in supermarkets or corner stores. In Quebec they do have beer and wine sales at corner stores.
In my province of B.C. private liquor stores and wine shops co-exist with government LCBC shops.
Places like Costco and Superstore have liquor sections/buildings in Alberta.
As far as the availability of alcohol in grocery stores and other non-monopolistic shops is concerned, Canada lacks big time.
Not to mention also that the alcohol is damn expensive in this country.
The province of Quebec is a bit smarter and with laxer rules in this respect. There you can find it in quite several non-State owned, oligopolistic stores.
I see the current situation as a hidden form of prohibition, sorry to say it but that's how I perceive it personally.
Are Canadian "beer stores" private or provincially-owned?
Are wine and hard liquor sold in supermarkets or in separate stores?
Although many provinces have gotten out of the business, alcohol is still ridiculously expensive. The taxes on alcohol vary by province but in general there are a WHOLE LOT OF TAXES. Add in the usual gouging by retailers and it's hard to believe Canadians drink at all.
In AZ a 1.75 liter of Smirnoff Vodka can be bought for under 20 bucks......up here you would be lucky to get it for under 50. Beer is also at least double in price.
All corner stores, grocery stores and Costco (counts as a grocery) sell beer and wine
Government-owned SAQ* stores sell hard liquor, a wider selection of wines (including finer ones) and some specialty beer
Ontario:
Government-owned LCBO* stores sell hard liquor and a wide selection of wines, and some specialty beers
The Beer Store, a government-sanctioned monopoly of the three largest brewers, is the main beer seller. There are complaints that they favour their own beer brands and don't allow the smaller microbreweries sufficient space. No kidding...
Some supermarkets have a wine store inside them which sells Ontario wines only
In some communities too small for an LCBO or a Beer Store the local grocery has permission to sell a limited selection of alcohol.
Beer/liquor are sold in free-standing busineses but market forces drive the number and location. So Costco/Superstore/Safeway all have beer/liquor stores, but they're separate from the groceries. Usually a different box in the parking lot, or an adjoining bay in the strip mall.
Beer and wine are only available at these stores though. Not in every store like the US.
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but I do believe that no province or territory in Canada has sales of hard liquor in supermarkets or corner stores. In Quebec they do have beer and wine sales at corner stores.
