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The real reason for the quotas is more likely the government’s reluctance to upset the Beer Store too severely. The Beer Store, controlled by four large foreign-owned multinational brewers, sees no reason why it should allow competitors (ugh) into a market it regards as its own, and lobbied hard against any changes — evidently with some success. Once the supermarkets exhaust their quota — or if customers prefer to buy in any size other than a six-pack — they will have no choice but to search for the “nearest” Beer Store outlet, same as usual.

Despite the limited scope of the innovation, Finance Minister Charles Sousa warned Thursday that the government might miss its December deadline for getting beer on grocery shelves. It’s all immensely complicated, you understand. There are agreements still to be negotiated and the province’s supermarkets will need time to prepare for this onerous responsibility. (If nothing else, they’ll have to hire lawyers to help them through the crazy-quilt of regulations.) Sousa made the comment while posing for a photo op at yet another Ontario alcoholic breakthrough: a new shop at which consumers can purchase “growlers” – 1.89-litre reusable jugs that can be filled with their choice of 169 craft beers.

It’s a marvellous idea. Groundbreaking, in fact. All you have to do is travel from wherever you live in Ontario to the only outlet in the province where the new jugs will be available, beside the LCBO’s Summerhill store in midtown Toronto. It’s a quick cab ride from the legislature, but the rest of the province is plainly intended to use the time on the way down to reflect on whether this is a lifestyle choice they are ready for.