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1948

June: The price of 24 pints of beer increases by 22 cents per case to $3.75

1949

Two new retail stores open at 280 Catherine Street, and on Preston Street. Ottawa at the time also has beer stores at 1310 Wellington, 268 Queen Street, 269 Dalhousie and in Eastview (Vanier.) All distribution is done from a warehouse at 110 Catherine St.

1961

The standardized ‘stubby’ bottle is introduced to help brewers cut the high costs of private-mold bottles. The bottles are used about 12 times before being discarded.

1969

Customers no longer have to sign their name and address on forms when buying beer.

1971

Jan.: A new regulation means that customers no longer have to fill out purchase order forms for beer.

Dec.: The first self-service Brewers Retail store opens on Danforth Ave. in Toronto. Customers are underwhelmed by the prospect of purchasing room-temperature beer.

1972

Brewers Retail stores announce they will begin selling draught beef for home consumption in mini-kegs on June 26.

1983

The ‘stubby’ beer bottle is phased out, a victim of beer packaging wars. The three major brewers write off a total of $59 million of inventory of the stubby bottles. New, taller twist-top bottles are re-used about ten times.

1985

April: Ontario Liberal leader David Peterson makes an election promise that he will allow the sale of beer and wine in grocery stores. Brewer’s Retail fights this plan with new marketing concepts, public education and protests to MPPs.