The alcohol retailing system in Ontario today is essentially the same one created by the Ontario government 85 years ago. The legislation that created the government-run LCBO, and the now foreign-owned Beer Store, was passed in 1927 — that’s the same time when Al Capone and his gang were in their heyday in prohibition era Chicago. But while the rest of Canada and jurisdictions around this province have modernized their alcohol retailing systems, Ontario’s remains a relic of the past.

Ontarians look around to their neighbours in Canada and the U.S. and see convenient alcohol retailing just about everywhere but at home. Tourists coming to Ontario continue to be surprised and bewildered at the awkward and inconvenient system we have in place. Perhaps our culture of driving has made those extra 10 or 15 minute drives to get some wine for dinner part of our routine, but it’s clear Ontario wants change.

For some time Ontarians have been saying that our province should move forward and broaden the retailing system. We believe now is the time to have that discussion.

At Queen’s Park Wednesday, a petition will be unveiled that is believed to be the largest in Ontario’s history. In the petition, 112,500 Ontarians from over 220 cities, towns and villages signal their support for beer and wine in convenience stores. That’s nearly 1 per cent of the population of the province of Ontario.

The people who signed this petition aren’t special interest groups. They’re voters and community members. They’re our neighbours. They support New Democrats, Liberals and Progressive Conservatives. They’re parents and workers — they’re responsible adults who want to leave the car at home once in a while and walk to their neighbourhood convenience store to get drinks for that BBQ with friends.

In fact, the public support is even broader than what’s shown in the petition. In poll after poll, a large proportion of the population has shown support for alcohol retailing to be broadened to include convenience stores. Ipsos Reid’s study for the Ontario Convenience Stores Association (OCSA) in late 2011 showed 67 per cent of Ontarians who shop at the foreign-owned Beer Store or government-run LCBO support convenience stores selling alcohol.

Many who oppose this idea raise the spectre of careless retailers selling alcohol to minors — somehow only the government-run LCBO or the foreign-owned Beer Store could do that job. To the contrary, the case for broadened alcohol retailing in Ontario is further strengthened by the track record of convenience stores in age verification. Convenience stores sell more age-restricted products than any other retailer and OCSA members do over 36 million age checks every year to deny sales to minors.

An independent study in 2011 that looked at the job the LCBO, the Beer Store and chain convenience stores do with age checks. The study used two groups of secret shoppers, minors aged 15-18 to randomly test retailers on how well they check for age. Convenience stores scored the highest with an 87.3 per cent pass rate, The Beer Store next with 80.7 per cent and LCBO last with 74.6 per cent — meaning 1 in 4 minors successfully purchased age-restricted products from LCBO, and 1 in 5 from The Beer Store — compared to 1 in 8 for convenience stores. While convenience stores are always striving to do better, we’ve demonstrated the ability to responsibly sell age-restricted products to the highest standards in Ontario.

Last year, when the Ontario government loosened liquor laws at festivals, the premier commented the change was being made because “we’re just kind of growing up a little bit as Ontarians.” Our customers are responsible adults and they’re of the mindset the minor tweaks the government has made aren’t enough. Ontarians are speaking clearly: they’re not happy with the antiquated system we have in Ontario.

Now is the time to have the discussion on expanded alcohol retailing in Ontario. The public wants it, a number of convenience stores in Ontario already sell alcohol, and our industry has shown we can sell age-restricted products responsibly. But change is hardest where there’s history and Ontarians are facing 85 years of entrenched business, political and government interests. Our hope is the 112,500 Ontarians who are putting their voice forward at Queen’s Park can be the next step forward toward a goal that millions of people in the province support.

Dave Bryans is CEO of the Ontario Convenience Stores Association.