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Here's where to get alcoholic bevvies during LCBO strike

Premier Ford released a video highlighting other places to buy alcohol during the strike, along with an interactive map with locales selling Ontario-made alcoholic beverages
Joseph Quigley
Joseph Quigley
20240708-newmarket-lcbo-strike-gk
LCBO workers protest outside the 17600 Yonge St. location July 8. Greg King/NewmarketToday

Newmarket LCBO workers are joining their counterparts across the province on the picket line for the strike that closed many retail locations just before the long weekend.

Striking employees outside the LCBO outlet at 17600 Yonge St. at Upper Canada Mall July 8 were protesting issues that include the province's plan to allow alcohol sales at private stores, and are seeking an increase in permanent workers.

Local strikers redirected inquiries to the OPSEU, which represents the LCBO workers. The union said this is a round of “bargaining like no other.”

“We know that the LCBO is Ontario’s best-kept secret — and we’re fighting to protect it,”, chair of OPSEU liquor board employees division and the bargaining team Colleen MacLeod said in a news release. “We’ve been very clear that we won’t back down in our fight for a strong future for the LCBO and the public services funded by LCBO revenues.”

The province announced accelerated plans May 24 to have alcoholic beverages at grocery stores and convenience stores by the end of October 2024, more than a year ahead of the original timeline, but at the cost of hundreds of millions of dollars.

The province fired back at striking workers, with Premier Doug Ford releasing a video highlighting other places to buy beer, cider, wine and coolers during the strike, along with an interactive map that includes locales selling Ontario-made alcoholic beverages.

“This new map is a great way to connect people across the province to local Ontario-made products and support the hundreds of Ontario businesses and thousands of Ontario workers who make these products and serve customers each and every day,” Doug Ford said in a news release.

In Newmarket, those places include:

  • Old Flame Brewing Co., 140 Main St. S.
  • The George Brew House & Eatery, 236 Main St. S.
  • The Beer Store, 1100 Davis Dr., 16715 Yonge St., 16640 Yonge St.
  • The Wine Shop, 1111 Davis Dr. and 18120 Yonge St.
  • Market Brewing Company, 17775 Leslie St.
  • Farm Boy, 18075 Yonge St.
  • Real Canadian Superstore, 18120 Yonge St.
  • Vince’s Market, 869 Mulock Dr.
  • Metro, 16640 Yonge St.

In Aurora, those places include:

  • Real Canadian Superstore, 15900 Bayview Ave.
  • The Beer Store, 15820 Bayview Ave.
  • Sobeys, 1550 Bayview Ave.
  • Longo’s 650 Wellington St. E.,
  • The Beer Store, 14800 Yonge St.
  • Metro, 1 Henderson Dr.

The union has said it has proposed an alternative to the government’s plans to have alcohol widely available everywhere. It said that the LCBO could grow to meet demand and increase convenience by opening more stores and expanding hours of operation, while increasing the public revenues that LCBO sales bring in. The union said those sales ultimately help fund provincial services.

“When you buy from the LCBO, including spirit-based ready-to-drink beverages, that should help build Ontario — not pay for a billionaire’s new yacht,” the union said.