Poll: Most Ontarians enjoy relaxed liquor laws

A new poll suggests that the vast majority of Ontarians would like to have the province’s liquor laws permanently relaxed.

Amid the pandemic, the state introduced a temporary law allowing for restaurants and bars to sell beer, wine and spirits to go. The poll, conducted by Campaign Research for the Star, found that 73 percent of those surveyed want the law to be permanent, with only 16 percent in opposition.

“People will always prefer to have more choice. We’re just catching up to the rest of the world,” said Campaign Research’s Nick Kouvalis. “It’s the least the government can do to help the struggling and devastated restaurant industry.”

Of the 1,512 people surveyed, 74 percent of responders also supported a continuation of the lockdowns to limit the spread of the coronavirus, down from 83 percent last month.

Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives introduced the temporary measure to help support the restaurant industry, that has been among the hardest hit by COVID-19 lockdowns. Since then, hundreds of bars and restaurants in Ontario have taken advantage of the measure, with many in Toronto turning into boutique liquor stores to serve their clientele amid the lockdown.

A bottle of wine that retails at $20 at a liquor store and sells for three times the price at a restaurant can now be bought for only $30 from bars and restaurants—a price that many are willing to pay for the convenience.

For now, the measure is expected to be lifted on December 31, but senior government officials speaking to the Star said that the changes could be permanent.