The Beer Store announced on Monday that it will close 12 locations across Ontario on October 19. This decision is part of a series of closures that have been occurring since April.

The affected locations include two stores in Toronto and one in North York, along with several in smaller communities. Towns facing closures include Bridgenorth, Eganville, Forest, Grand Bend, Harrow, Little Current, Markdale, Noëlville, and Sauble Beach.

Residents in larger cities like Toronto may find it easier to access other stores. However, those in smaller towns will face greater challenges. For instance, residents of Little Current on Manitoulin Island will need to travel 40 kilometers to Espanola for the nearest Beer Store. Similarly, residents of Noëlville will have to go nearly 50 kilometers to Sturgeon Falls. Both towns do have LCBO outlets available.

This closure is not an isolated incident. Since April, The Beer Store has announced a total of 77 closures across eight separate announcements. Each closure is set to take effect two months after the announcement.

Ozzie Ahmed, the retail vice-president of The Beer Store, described the closures as a “difficult decision.” He stated, “Where we sell beer and collect empties in Ontario is changing. The Beer Store is modernizing to meet the changing marketplace and unfortunately this means making the hard decision to close retail locations. We know this is difficult news for customers and employees.” He also emphasized that the store will continue to provide customer service and a deposit return system for consumers.

The changes in The Beer Store's operations are influenced by evolving alcohol sales regulations in Ontario, particularly under Premier Doug Ford's Conservative government. In late 2023, Ford announced that sales of beer, wine, cider, and ready-to-drink cocktails would be permitted in convenience and grocery stores by 2026. The phased expansion is set to begin as early as August 2024.

A 2015 agreement between the former Liberal government and The Beer Store granted the retailer exclusive rights to sell 12- and 24-packs of beer until the end of this year. As part of the transition to a more open marketplace, the province agreed to provide The Beer Store with up to $225 million to support job protection and maintain recycling and bottle return services.

The agreement also stipulates that at least 386 stores must remain open until July 2025, and at least 300 until December 31, 2025. The Beer Store is expected to continue its province-wide recycling program for alcoholic beverage containers until at least 2031.

According to The Beer Store's operational report for 2024, the retailer had 407 locations, a decrease from 424 two years prior. In contrast, the LCBO has expanded its presence, adding eight locations for a total of 688.

As for returning empties, residents in towns like Little Current will face challenges. While they can purchase beer at the LCBO, Valu-Mart, and Manitoulin Brewing Company, only The Beer Store currently accepts empty returns. However, the province's agreement mandates that grocery stores selling alcohol must begin accepting empty returns by January 1, 2026.