On March 20, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the AGCO authorized a temporary extension that allowed retail stores including authorized grocery stores, Manufacturer’s Retail Stores, LCBO stores including Convenience Outlets, and Brewers Retail Inc. stores (The Beer Store) to sell alcohol from 7:00am to 11:00pm. This extension was set to expire on April 30 but has now been extended to December 31, 2020.
Individual stores are not required to operate during all of the extended hours and may choose to shorten their own hours of operation. The hours of alcohol sale may be further restricted by municipal bylaws, and certain retailers may also be restricted as a condition on their authorization.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge our communities and businesses. The AGCO is supportive of measures that support physical distancing, such as special early shopping hours that many stores are offering for vulnerable people, including seniors. The extension of permitted retail alcohol sales hours is intended to provide flexibility for customers during these early shopping hours, and also gives retail stores greater flexibility to choose their hours of sale.