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Grocers won’t be allowed to sell wines for less than $10.95 a bottle for a number of reasons, including concerns about social responsibility — but also to reduce competition with the LCBO. Prices for bottles at the LCBO — especially fortified wines and ports — could increase slightly as the government moves to align wine’s minimum pricing standards with those already in place for wine and spirits.

A new spirit

Craft distillers are popping up across Ontario and they’re fighting for a place at the table. They won’t get grocery store sales, but they will be allowed to sell directly to restaurants — a big win that brings them in line with other local booze offerings. And the report recommends their tax system be reformed to allow greater profits from on-site sales, which would lift current regulations some distillers are currently challenging in court.

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Ed Clark, the former banker tasked to review Ontario’s liquor distribution system, wouldn’t say by how much prices would increase, but currently some wines are sold for as little as $7.95 a bottle. Clark said that news would come in next Thursday’s budget. There’s also a chance that budget will see taxes on wine imports increased. He suggested that fortified wines and ports are most likely to see higher prices as the province seeks to bring wine’s minimum pricing in line with beer and spirits, which is currently based on the amount of alcohol in each unit.

Premier Kathleen Wynne joined him to announce on Thursday morning that wine will soon be sold at up to 150 additional grocery stores, starting with about 70 supermarkets this fall. However, that wine must cost at least $10.95. For stores that already have one of more than 200 existing winery-owned stores within a store, 150 will be allowed to move the products inside the store and be required to sell exclusively Ontario wines. Currently those stores, which include the Wine Rack and the Wine Shop, only sell bottles from the brands owned by those companies.