7-Eleven to Sell Beer and Wine in Ontario

Convenience store chain 7-Eleven has recently secured a liquor sales license from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, allowing the company to serve beer, wine, and coolers at a licensed restaurant within one of its Leamington, Ontario locations. This move marks the beginning of a wider expansion for 7-Eleven in the province, as the company already operates similar licensed restaurants in several locations in Alberta.

In addition to alcohol, 7-Eleven plans to open additional licensed restaurants at select stores throughout Ontario in the coming months, bringing the convenience of purchasing alcohol along with other everyday items to more customers.

This expansion into alcohol sales by 7-Eleven comes after Premier Doug Ford made a campaign promise during his 2018 election to allow corner stores to sell beer and wine. His government even passed a law to terminate a 10-year agreement with The Beer Store, which would have otherwise prevented such expansion. However, the law was never put into effect and the issue has largely been dropped since a cabinet shuffle saw a new finance minister take office.

Despite this, the Progressive Conservative government has made some other moves towards alcohol liberalization, including allowing restaurants to sell alcohol with food as part of delivery or takeout orders on a permanent basis. This policy was initially introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic and has proven to be popular with customers and businesses alike.


The expansion of alcohol sales to convenience stores like 7-Eleven will no doubt be welcomed by many customers in Ontario who are looking for a more convenient way to purchase their favourite beers, wines, and coolers. It remains to be seen how this move will impact the traditional alcohol retail market in the province, but it is certain to bring new competition and choices for consumers.