Premier Doug Ford lowers booze prices and extends takeout beer, wine, and liquor measures to help ailing restaurants during the pandemic

Premier Doug Ford's government is further liberalizing Ontario's liquor laws as a prescription for helping an ailing restaurant sector stricken by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has lowered the minimum price that restaurants and bars are allowed to sell gin, rum, tequila, vodka, and whiskey.

At the same time, the provincial licensing agency has extended measures that allow restaurants and bars to sell beer, wine, and spirits to go with takeout meals until the end of this year.

That provision was put in place on March 26, a little more than a week after Ontario was placed in a state of emergency, which restricted restaurants and bars to serving food for takeaway only.

The AGCO also announced late Tuesday night that it is making it easier for cider producers to sell directly to consumers by removing the requirement for cideries to have five acres of planted fruit in order to qualify for a store at their facility.

That means all licensed cider makers manufacturers can sell their cans and bottles on-site or deliver them directly to consumers regardless of where their apples or other fruit are grown.

Jean Major, the commission's registrar and CEO of the commission, said all the new measures would be revoked Jan. 1.

The reduced minimum prices for bottles of spirits sold by licensed establishments, and the rule change for cidery retail are additional ways to support the hospitality sector as it deals with the effects of COVID-19," said Major.

Under the changes, a restaurant or bar can sell spirits for as little as $1.34 per 29 ml - down from the previous floor price of $2 for that amount.

The previous minimum a restaurateur or publican could sell a 750 ml bottle of booze was $51.72. That falls to $34.65, which is closer to the retail price consumers pay at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario.

Should the emergency be over before year's end and restaurants and bars permitted the serve on the premises, they would have to charge the higher price. However, takeout drinks would still be cheaper.

By making spirits more affordable the government is providing further support to restaurants, bars and other establishments that cannot serve patrons in-house during the current state of emergency," the AGCO said.

The premier said in March that the government was responding to concerns from the hospitality sector.

These folks are hurting so badly. They're the ones who requested about home delivery," Ford said in March.

It's a good idea if people don't have to leave their homes," he said at the time.

Licensed restaurants and bars in Ontario can sell alcohol with food takeout and delivery orders between the hours of 9 a.m. and 11 p.m.

Anyone involved in the delivery or sale of alcohol must have successfully completed the province's Smart Serve training, which can be done online.

Earlier this spring, it was Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca who first suggested the measures to help restaurateurs and other small business owners.

I thank the government for being open to this suggestion," Del Duca said after Ford's original announcement in March.

It will have a real economic impact for restaurants that are struggling to survive. We are all in this together."

Senior officials in Ford's Progressive Conservative government have confided that it will be difficult to return to more restrictive rules once the pandemic is over because consumers are welcoming the additional choice and selection of buying booze to go.

On Toronto's Ossington Avenue, home to numerous small restaurants and bars, some business owners are selling off the inventory in their wine cellars with takeout meals in order to remain open.

While the prices are slightly higher than at the LCBO, they are considerably lower than the usual menu cost. For example, a bottle of wine that would retail for $20 at the LCBO - and might cost $60 to eat in - is selling for $30 to go.

LCBO stores and Beer Store outlets have stayed open during the pandemic, but on reduced hours.

Restaurants Canada has said providing licensed restaurants in Ontario the ability to deliver local products with takeout and delivery allows customers to continue to observe social distancing while offering much needed support for local food and beverage businesses."

Robert Benzie is the Star's Queen's Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie