Alcoholic drinks now available for sale at convenience stores across northeastern Ontario

As of 7 a.m. on Thursday, you can now buy alcoholic drinks in hundreds of convenience stores across Ontario.

The Kwik-Way in the Hanmer area of Greater Sudbury is one of them and owner Amit Parmar says a few of his regular customers were planning to be there bright and early to buy the first beer.

He is also stocking beer, wine and pre-mixed cocktails at his Kwik-Way stores in Val Caron and Minnow Lake.

"Every location is different, depending on the demographic. So I think the first six months to one year will just be learning and understanding the consumer pattern and the customer purchase behaviour and we'll make adjustments," said Parmar.

"It's a learning curve and hopefully we will get it right eventually."

Parmar says he has spent over $150,000 installing a walk-in cooler at the Hanmer store, but he considers that the "cost of doing business."

He says it's "too early to say" how big alcohol sales could be for his bottom line. He's setting his prices close to what these products are already selling for at the LCBO and Beer Store.

To make room for beer and other alcoholic drinks, Parmar says he is removing "slow moving products" including milk. 

At Taffy's Convenience in Kapuskasing, owner Ryan Brochu says he's spent thousands on training for his staff as well as new refrigerator units for the store. 

"It might take a year or two to get back on track or a couple of years to get back on track, but I do believe the sale of alcohol will make it worth it," said Brochu, who opened the store two years ago. 

"It's the sale of other things that we might not have sold or a client who might not have come in."

S and R Variety in Sturgeon Falls is one of the convenience stores that decided against getting into the beer business.

"As of right now, I'm just unsure with everything. It's not a top priority," said owner Samantha Thiessen.