Beer and wine could be easier to buy if the PC party wins the election, but it would come with a small catch.
PC Leader Dennis King said his government would broaden the offerings of beer and wine to convenience stores around the province.
But that offering would come with a condition that 25 per cent of what the stores carry is local beer or wine, King said.
He said it’s about fairness for Island consumers but also an opportunity to promote P.E.I. products and tourism.
“We feel this is the next logical step,” he said.
The P.E.I. Liquor Control Commission regulates alcohol sales and operates retail stores throughout the province.
That monopoly loosened somewhat in recent years as the province allowed agency stores in areas where there weren’t government-run outlets.
There are agency stores in East Royalty, Eldon, Kinkora, Cavendish, Morell, Wood Islands, Murray Harbour and Wellington.
Prices at those locations are slightly higher than at provincially-run stores.
King said it’s a highly regulated industry and would continue to be with the P.E.I. Liquor Control Commission monitoring it.
“It would certainly be regulated to the extent that it is now,” he said.
The current agency stores have a limited number of products available, and that would continue to be the case, King said.
He also said the convenience stores would complement the provincially run liquor stores that sell a broader selection of products.
King said a lot of the details will need to be worked out, but he foresees keeping prices higher at convenience stores.
“I see the model that we have in place and that it works and there is an added cost at the stores and we feel that will probably continue,” he said.
Association support
The Atlantic Convenience Stores Association supports the move with spokesman Mike Hammoud saying agency stores have invested in new equipment, made capital improvements and hired more staff.
“What a great way for hard-working private businesses to grow, especially in rural P.E.I.,” he said.
In Charlottetown, Ian MacDonald manages Downtown Convenience a few doors down from one of the provincial liquor stores and said people often ask if convenience stores sell alcohol.
“In the summer, it’s much more frequently,” he said.
MacDonald said there are pros and cons to liquor sales for convenience stores.
It’s another product to sell consumers, and it won’t be hard to make up the requirement of 25 per cent local products, he said.
MacDonald also said it’s another item for which stores will have to ask for ID and there will be a high theft risk.
“It’s a double-edged sword for businesses,” he said.
With the province facing many issues, MacDonald wondered if alcohol in convenience stores should be a priority for political parties during the election.
“I just think it’s low-hanging fruit,” he said.
He compared it to a campaign promise Ontario Premier Doug Ford made during his province’s last election.
“It smacks of Doug Ford’s buck-a-beer pledge,” he said.
