TORONTO

The more the Beer Store scrambles to respond to Ed Clark’s report on maximizing value from provincial assets, the more they seem like dinosaurs getting mired deeper in the tar pits.

Back in November, Clark — the guy Premier Kathleen Wynne asked to look at how to get more money from booze sales — had a message for the Beer Store: Love it or list it.

The Beer Store balked at his suggestion liquor stores be allowed to sell 12-packs of suds, saying it will add almost $5 to the cost of a case of beer.

Clark scoffed at that, saying he couldn’t see how making 12-packs available at the LCBO would wipe out the Beer Store, since 80% of Beer Store sales are cases of 24.

“The Beer Store is saying they can’t afford to absorb a tax,” Clark said. “They’re saying if we do decide to charge a franchise fee of some sort, they don’t have any room. They’re right up against the wall. They don’t have a dollar to give. And we’re saying that means the franchise you have is worthless.”

They don’t want to give up the franchise, but they don’t want to pay for it, said Clark.

This week, the Beer Store came up with their own suggestion — clearly aimed at looking as if they’re giving the nod to opening up their foreign-owned beer-opoly to smaller brewers — before they’re forced to do so.

All they really succeeded in doing was pointing out what a ridiculous system it is, when three foreign-owned, multinational corporations can dictate how small, local craft brewers can sell their wares.

Small brewers can now buy into the Beer Store. Those that sell more than five million litres a year would pay $1,000, smaller ones $100. For that, they get one share.

Craft brewers are also being offered a total of three out of 15 seats on the Beer Store board.

As well, small brewers will pay no listing fee when stocking two of their products at the five Beer Store locations closest to their brewery. But why would small brewers want to stock their product at the stores closest to their brewery? Doesn’t it make more sense to sell the beer wherever they think there’s the best market for their product?

Far from making the Beer Store appear open and inviting to small brewers, the new measures simply point out how restrictive and archaic the rules are on selling beer in this province. These changes simply entrench the power held by the three big brewers.

For years, the Beer Store thumbed their noses at consumers, operating dull, uninspiring stores where you had to order your brew from a surly assistant.

Yes, they’ve recently modernized their stores and made them more attractive, but only because their favoured deal was threatened.

Why should small craft brewers trying to develop a niche market have to get the stamp of approval from the three foreign-owned megabosses — Molson Coors, Anheuser-Busch InBev and Sapporo?

Why do they have to use the Beer Store at all? Why can’t they just sell directly to convenience stores? Why not have craft brewer boutiques in supermarkets, the same way we have wine stores?

Started as Brewers Retail in 1927, the Beer Store is a relic of the Prohibition era, and the dirty 30s, when demon alcohol was regarded as something to be controlled.

If the Liberal government were truly interested in modernizing booze sales, they’d simply scrap the system — and open it up. If the Beer Store wants to compete, let them do so.

Free the beer. Let brewers sell where they want. Let us buy where we want.

christina.blizzard@sunmedia.ca