Barge Craft Beer files proposed ‘simple’ fix to Ontario beer law

Toronto, ON – Barge Craft Beer Distribution & Retail Co. today announced it has filed a proposal to the Attorney General of Ontario, The Honourable Madeleine Meilleur, citing a “simple fix to Ontario’s beer laws.”

Barge, on January 12, 2015, also filed a 60-day notice of application to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to invalidate subsection 3(e) of the Liquor Control Act, which grants the Beer Store monopoly powers.

Today’s proposal surmizes that an open beer retail market in Ontario would benefit brewers, distributors, and retailers while enabling job growth and increased revenue for the province.

Specifically, Barge indicated that Subsection 3(e) of the Liquor Control Act which sets the purpose of the LCBO be changed from:

“… to authorize Brewers Retail Inc. to operate stores for the sale of beer to the public”

to:

“… to authorize licensed beer retailers to operate stores for the sale of beer to the public”

View the filed proposal in its entirety here: Hassell letter to Attorney General re Proposal for Ontario Beer Law Reform [PDF]

Additionally, Barge also today publicized three Fall 2014 correspondence to Ontario’s brewers in a response to request for transparency by Toronto-based beer writer Ben Johnson.