Training Modules
Alcohol Retailing 101
In this section, you will learn some of the basics of the four retail licence types, who you can sell alcohol to, when you can sell alcohol, and requirements around sampling.
Types of retail licences:
For a retailer seeking to sell alcohol to customers, there are four types of licences, each with slightly different requirements. Those licences are:
Grocery Store Licence
can sell beer, cider, wine, and ready-to-drink beverages
can deliver liquor from the store for a fee
can offer samples of liquor
Convenience Store Licence
Same as the grocery store licence above, however, no sampling is allowed with this licence.
Off-site Winery Retail Store Licence
Can sell their wine at a retail store that is not located at their production site
Can offer samples of wine
Brewer’s Retail Inc. Licence
Can sell beer and cider in its retail stores
Can offer samples of beer and cider
Can deliver beer from the store for a fee
Who can you sell to?
The most important requirement for selling alcohol is to sell it responsibly. In Ontario, the legal minimum drinking age is 19. This means you can only sell or otherwise provide alcohol to customers that are at least 19 years old. Further, Ontario law prohibits selling or providing liquor to any individual who appears to be in a state of intoxication - so the customer must appear to be sober as well.
Further, it is also against the law to sell alcohol to second party purchasers, these are individuals who attempt to purchase liquor on behalf of a minor or someone who is intoxicated. In other words, if someone is at the register, and it is clear they are purchasing alcohol on behalf of someone younger than 19, Ontario law prohibits the sale to the customer attempting to purchase alcohol on the minor’s behalf.
These regulations are in place to safeguard the health and well-being of young individuals, and to promote public safety and responsible alcohol consumption practices.
When can you sell?
Retail stores in Ontario that are licensed to sell liquor are permitted to do so between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. every day of the week. While certain grocery and convenience stores may have operating hours that extend beyond these times, they are only allowed to sell liquor within those established hours. For example, a 24-hour convenience store cannot sell alcohol at midnight. The permissible hours of sale extend to exchanging products (e.g. returning a bottle of wine in exchange for a different bottle of wine) but do not restrict processing refunds (e.g. returning a bottle of wine for cash or in-store credit).
Licensee must ensure that liquor is only available to customers between the hours of 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. on any day. The permissible hours for the delivery of liquor are different from the retail hours: the delivery of alcohol is permitted from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. every day of the week.
Drinking and Driving
Beyond a responsibility to sell responsibly, being licensed carries a broader commitment to community safety. As a licensed retailer or employee, it is your responsibility to recognize when
a customer may be planning to drive under the influence and to take the necessary steps to prevent it, including calling 9-1-1 if you see or suspect an impaired customer planning to drive a vehicle.
If a customer insists on driving despite being intoxicated, you must act swiftly. Walk through the following three steps with customers, and call 9-1-1 as necessary:
Offer Alternatives: Suggest alternatives like calling a taxi, arranging for a designated driver, or using a ride-share service.
Involve Management: If the situation escalates or the customer refuses help, immediately notify your manager or supervisor.
Call 9-1-1: If the customer is determined to drive, and you believe they are a danger to themselves or others, you are obligated to call 9-1-1. Provide the operator with as much information as possible, including a description of the individual, their vehicle, and their intended direction.
