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| NOTE TO CFIG MEMBERS: Hello Ontario CFIG members: You may have already received the below notice of a Regulatory changes put in place by the Ontario government and sent out today. One component of this regulation outlines how minimum pricing for the sale of beer, wine and ready to drink alcohol products will be determined. Minimum pricing is something that CFIG supported. However, another change—and a reversal of government policy—will be to now allow for the use of loyalty points to offset the payment of beer and wine, if the purchase of the liquor is made through the LCBO. The regulation also stipulates the product cannot be subject to special offers and the points must equal the price that the retailer would otherwise charge for the product. While CFIG wanted to ensure our members were aware of this regulatory change, it remains our position that we are opposed to the requirement that grocery stores must accept dirty and soiled beer and wine empties back into their stores. We know this is the view that our members have overwhelmingly expressed to us and the very low number of grocery stores, both independent and chain, reflect that fact. Both the LCBO and convenience stores under 4000 square feet, are exempt from that requirement. We know that the food safety of your premises is a top priority. Finding the space for the storage and sorting of those empties also poses financial and logistical challenges. As well, when customers bring these empties back into your store, regardless of where they were purchased, where in the store do those dirty cans and bottles go? These are the concerns we have forcefully brought forward on your behalf to the government and through the media. We will continue to press for this requirement to be revoked. It is worth noting that the retail grocery chains share our position. The Beer Store accepts empties. They were recently awarded an increase in their deposit return fee from 11 cents to 16 cents (retailers are offered 2 cents) so they should continue to do so. CFIG has also recommended to the government that since the LCBO does not sell food and as such, they should be required to accept the empty bottles and cans. With both of these outlets accepting returns, this provides a reasonable solution to the issue. We thank you for your continued support and we will keep you updated on this issue. |
 Alcohol and GamingCommission of Ontario 90 Sheppard Avenue East Suite 200 Toronto ON M2N 0A4 September 5, 2024 (La version française suit la version anglaise) Important Information: Regulatory Changes for Convenience and Grocery Stores Hello, To support the newly expanded liquor marketplace, the Ontario Government has made changes to Regulation 746/21: Licensing and Regulation 750/21: Minimum Pricing of Liquor and Other Pricing Matters under the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019 (LLCA) which are now in effect. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is committed to supporting convenience and grocery stores throughout this important transition. For more information, please refer to the info bulletin published on the AGCO’s website. Overview of Regulatory Changes: · Contiguous product display requirements: Convenience and grocery stores no longer need to display all alcohol in a single contiguous product display area. This change gives stores more flexibility in how they arrange and display alcohol for sale. A prohibition on displaying energy drinks and products promoting the immoderate consumption of liquor immediately adjacent to liquor is in place. Loyalty programs: Retailers can accept benefits issued under a loyalty program or a rewards marketing program (including coupons, tickets, points or rewards) as full or partial payment for liquor. Retailers can also exchange, convert or redeem these benefits for cash that is applied to liquor purchases. The prohibition remains on offering free or discounted merchandise contingent on the purchase of liquor. Uniform Liquor Pricing: Uniform pricing requirements for alcohol have been lifted. This change allows retail licensees the flexibility to independently set their own prices for alcohol, as long as pricing remains above the minimum retail price. See the LCBO’s Minimum Retail Pricing Guide for more details. Retailers no longer have to include taxes and container deposits in the displayed and advertised price for alcohol. For additional compliance support, please review the AGCO’s website. Support and Contact Information · Compliance Support: Visit our Compliance Support webpage to find additional tools and resources to help you understand and comply with Ontario’s alcohol laws. AGCO Inspectors: If you have questions or need assistance, your local AGCO inspectors are available to help. If you are unsure who your local inspector is, or have misplaced their contact information, please email Compliance@agco.ca with your address to get connected. Customer Service: Reach out to AGCO Customer Service via the iAGCO online portal or call us Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. at (416)-326-8700 or toll free at 1-(800)-522-2876.  5 septembre 2024 Informations importantes : Modifications réglementaires pour les dépanneurs et les épiceries Bonjour : Afin de soutenir le marché de l’alcool nouvellement élargi, le gouvernement de l’Ontario a apporté des modifications au Règlement 746/21 : Permis et au Règlement 750/21 : Prix minimum des boissons alcoolisées et autres questions de prix en vertu de la Loi de 2019 sur les permis d’alcool et la réglementation des alcools (LPARA), qui sont maintenant en vigueur. La Commission des alcools et des jeux de l’Ontario (CAJO) s’engage à soutenir les dépanneurs et les épiceries tout au long de cette importante transition. Pour plus d’informations, veuillez consulter le bulletin d’information publié sur le site Web de la CAJO. Aperçu des modifications réglementaires : Exigences relatives à l’affichage des produits contigus : Les dépanneurs et les épiceries n’ont plus besoin d’afficher tous les produits alcoolisés dans une seule zone d’exposition contiguë. Ce changement donne aux magasins plus de souplesse dans la façon dont ils organisent et présentent l’alcool à vendre. L’interdiction d’exposer des boissons énergisantes et des produits faisant la promotion de la consommation immodérée d’alcool à proximité immédiate de l’alcool est en vigueur. 2. Programmes de fidélisation : Les détaillants peuvent accepter les avantages offerts dans le cadre d’un programme de fidélisation ou d’un programme de marketing de récompenses (y compris les coupons, les billets, les points ou les récompenses) en guise de paiement total ou partiel de l’alcool. Les détaillants peuvent également échanger, convertir ou racheter ces avantages contre de l’argent comptant qui est appliqué aux achats d’alcool. L’interdiction d’offrir des marchandises gratuites ou à prix réduit en fonction de l’achat d’alcool demeure. 3. Prix uniformes de l’alcool : Les exigences de prix uniformes pour l’alcool ont été levées. Ce changement permet aux titulaires de permis de vente au détail de fixer de manière indépendante leurs propres prix pour l’alcool, tant que les prix restent supérieurs au prix de détail minimum. Consultez le Guide des prix de détail minimum de la LCBO (en anglais seulement) pour plus de détails. Les détaillants ne sont plus tenus d’inclure les taxes et les consignes sur les contenants dans le prix affiché et annoncé de l’alcool. Pour obtenir de l’aide supplémentaire en matière de conformité, veuillez consulter le site Web de la CAJO. Coordonnées et soutien Soutien à la conformité : visitez notre page Web Soutien à la conformité pour trouver des outils et des ressources supplémentaires qui vous aideront à comprendre et à respecter les lois ontariennes sur l’alcool. Inspecteurs de la CAJO : Si vous avez des questions ou besoin d’aide, vos inspecteurs locaux de la CAJO sont là pour vous aider. Si vous ne savez pas qui est votre inspecteur local ou si vous avez égaré ses coordonnées, veuillez envoyer un courriel à Compliance@agco.ca avec votre adresse pour vous connecter. Service à la clientèle : contactez le service à la clientèle de la CAJO via le portail en ligne iAGCO ou appelez-nous du lundi au vendredi de 8 h 30 à 17 h, au (416) 326-8700 ou sans frais au 1-(800) 522-2876.  View online – agco.ca – Unsubscribe    |
