TORONTO – A new survey commissioned by the Convenience Industry Council of Canada found that a large majority of New Brunswickers support the idea of beer and wine being sold at convenience stores.

The research was commissioned by the Convenience Industry Council of Canada and managed independently by Abacus Data. The survey was conducted in late 2019 with 800 adult New Brunswickers participating. Findings are accurate within plus or minus 3.5 percentage points 19 times out of 20.

Survey participants were split about equally between adults identified as regular consumers of alcoholic beverages and those who were infrequent consumers or non-drinkers. Support among regular consumers was 96 percent while support among infrequent consumers or non-drinkers was 75 per cent.

Anne Kothawala, president and CEO of the Convenience Industry Council of Canada, said shopping convenience is a key factor behind the support from adult New Brunswickers for expanding the retailing of beer and wine in convenience stores.

“Almost 70 per cent of survey participants rated accessing beer and wine from a convenience store close to home as either very important or somewhat important,” said Kothawala in a release. “And almost 40 percent of survey participants said they would be much more likely or somewhat more likely to shop at a local convenience store if beer and wine were available.”

Kothawala said adult New Brunswickers have consistently expressed strong support for expanding the retailing of beer and wine in convenience stores

“This is the third consumer survey on the issue using similar questions and nothing has changed: adult New Brunswickers want the convenience of shopping close to home for beer and wine,” she said.

The CICC plans to continue engagement with NB Liquor and provincial government representatives to discuss the expansion of sales.

“Our industry has long advocated for expanded retailing of beer and wine through convenience stores. In New Brunswick there are government stores, agency stores and grocery stores retailing beer and wine,” said Kothawala.”But adult New Brunswickers are still of the opinion that there’s a need for an expanded retailing role for convenience stores.”