Ford government loosens liquor laws to help struggling restaurant industry

Ontario's Premier Doug Ford has extended emergency orders for the province through to May 19, under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, according to The Star.

The announcement was made on Wednesday to keep the social distancing measures in place to continue to slow the spread of COVID-19 that were first put in place on March 17.

All parks and recreational areas, non essential workplaces, bars, restaurants and public spaces are included in the closure, in addition to restrictions on social gatherings.

Staff who work in long-term care facilities are also limited to working at only one facility during this period.

The province also extended its emergency electrical rate relief to run until the end of May for families, farms and small businesses. Rates will continue to be billed at the "off-peak" price regardless of what time a day the electricity is being used.

“During this extraordinary period, many people are struggling to pay the bills as they do the right thing by staying at home, as well as our farmers and those whose businesses have closed or suffered reduced customer traffic,” said Premier Doug Ford in a statement.

“Although we are making progress in our fight against this COVID-19 outbreak, we are not out of the woods yet. The extension of this electricity rate relief will leave more money in people’s pockets until businesses can start to reopen and people can get back to work.”

On top of that, the Ford administration is further loosening Ontario’s liquor laws in an effort to help the hurting restaurant sector that has been hit hard by the lockdown.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has reduced the minimum price that restaurants and bars may sell whiskey, rum, tequila, vodka, and gin. In addition to that the agency will also allow restaurants to sell beer, wine and spirits with take out meals through the end of 2020.

Cider producers may now have a better opportunity to sell their products directly to their customers on site as well, since the AGCO has lifted previous measures that required cider makers to have five acres of planted fruit in order to qualify for store at their breweries. Now those restrictions have lifted and any licensed cider maker can sell their cans or bottles on site or with delivery regardless of where their fruit is grown.

All of the new measures that have been instituted due to the coronavirus pandemic will expire as of January 1, 2021, said Jean Major, CEO of the commission.

“The reduced minimum prices for bottles of spirits sold by licensed establishments, and the rule change for cidery retail are additional ways to support the hospitality sector as it deals with the effects of COVID-19,” said Major.

Previously a restaurant or bar couldn't sell a 29ml spirit for less than $2 , whereas now they can sell them for a little as $1.34. A 750 ml bottle of booze was to be sold for no less than $51.72 before the changes, and may now be sold for as low as $35.65. That change in price brings the cost much closer to what it would be at the LCBO, and allows restaurants to recoup some revenue that would otherwise be lost by the lack of patrons.