Think of it as a small bottle of port in the storm for Ontario’s COVID-19-ravaged bars and restaurants.

The Liquor Control Board of Ontario, which has curbed product returns during the pandemic, will lift that prohibition for publicans and restaurateurs within the next fortnight.

“Right now, the hold on returns applies to all, but the plan is to accommodate licensee returns within the next two weeks,” the LCBO said Thursday.

“The pause in accepting in-store returns is to help protect the well-being of our retail staff,” added the provincial liquor monopoly, which operates 660 stores across Ontario.

“This is a temporary measure while we assess the services we can continue to maintain with reduced operating hours and staff.”

Bruce Davis, who owns The Alibi bar in Kingston, contacted the Star Wednesday to flag the problem.

“Every bar and resto is scrambling to pay bills and this is a shock,” he said. “On Monday, I could see something was going to happen so I took about $1,600 worth of booze back to the store.”

Earlier this week, the LCBO announced it was limiting retail hours from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. instead of outlets keeping open from as early as 9 a.m. until as late as 11 p.m.

But the Crown agency acknowledged the ban on returns has affected bars and restaurants, which have been asked not to open except for takeout meals.

“Our licensee partners are facing challenges and we are here to help them navigate this uncertain time,” the LCBO said.

“While our pause on individual customer refunds is until further notice, we are working on a solution to process licensee returns within the next two weeks.”

On Wednesday, the privately owned Beer Store chain, which has 445 outlets, announced its hours would be reduced to 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Beer Store also said it would not be accepting bottles and cans for recycling for the next two weeks. That affects LCBO customers since the beer retailer handles the deposits for wine, spirits, and beer containers, too.