The Beer Store launches new website to correct the facts in deregulation

http://ontariobeerfacts.ca/

TORONTO, Feb. 10, 2014 /CNW/ - On Monday the Beer Store launched a new website aimed at providing Ontarians with important facts on the consequences of selling beer, wine and hard liquor at corner stores and gas stations.

The website (www.ontariobeerfacts.ca) outlines the five primary negative consequences of deregulation along with the popular myths advanced by proponents of deregulation.

The consequences outlined include:

• Higher consumers prices;
• Less product selection;
• Reduced tax revenues;
• Increased sales to minors; and,
• The end of an world-class, award-winning recycling system.

"There's been a lot of misinformation about beer prices in Ontario and we need to make sure that Ontario residents have the facts," said Jeff Newton, President of Canada's National Brewers. 

"Convenience stores like to let Ontario residents believe that beer prices would go down if alcohol were to be sold in corner stores, but they would not. Just today, they were forced to admit that fact. This new website shows these negative consequences so Ontarians can judge for themselves."

The website also includes a new report from The Beer Store, independently reviewed by economist Greg Flanagan, that outlines how deregulating alcohol sales in Ontario would drive up retail beer and alcohol prices and cost hundreds of millions of dollars in lost tax revenue.

For all of the facts visit www.ontariobeerfacts.ca or follow @ONBeerFacts on Twitter.

SOURCE: The Beer Store

Jay Armitage, FleishmanHillard, [email protected], 416-645-8174