The Ontario Government has made amendments to subsection 35(3) of Ontario Regulation 746/21: Licensing of the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019 (LLCA) to permanently allow for the transfer of wine and spirits, including cider, between premises with a Liquor Sales Licence that are held by the same licensee or by a licensee and its affiliate, without needing to cease operation on a temporary or permanent basis.
Please note that all other liquor, such as beer, may only be transferred if the location from which the beer is being transferred is temporarily or permanently closing.
Regardless of the type of alcohol being transferred, there are conditions that a Liquor Sales Licensee must meet to ensure a proper alcohol transfer. Please see subsection 35(3) of Ontario Regulation 746/21 (Licensing) for a complete list of these conditions.
To support the regulatory amendments made, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has updated the Registrar’s Interim Standards and Requirements for Liquor under Standard 7.13 concerning the notification requirement for product transfers. Before alcohol can be transferred between affiliated licensees, the licensee (or its affiliate) must notify the AGCO through a regulatory submission in the iAGCO portal. In the iAGCO portal, licensees can submit a regulatory submission and provide the following information:
- Details of the alcohol being transferred, including the type, brand and quantity of alcohol, as well as whether any containers have been opened prior to their transfer;
- If beer is being transferred, whether the transfer is due to a temporary or permanent closure of the licensed premises from which it is being moved; and
- The licence numbers of the two liquor licensed premises from which the alcohol is being transferred and the premises where the alcohol is being received.
To submit a regulatory submission to the AGCO, please log into your iAGCO account and select “Notification of Liquor Transfer(s)” from the regulatory submission selection.
Contact and Support
For more information, please contact the AGCO anytime via the iAGCO online portal or call AGCO Customer Service Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm at 416-326-8700 or toll-free at 1-800-522-2876.