Opposition mounting against 7-Eleven alcohol service
Applications before the province's alcohol authority would allow booze to be served and consumed inside 61 Ontario 7-Eleven stores
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Plans to permit select 7-Eleven stores to allow in-store alcohol service have hit a sour note.
On Monday, OPSEU President Smokey Thomas announced the union, which represents the province’s 8,000 LCBO workers, filed official objections to the 7-Eleven proposal with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
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“We’ll find ourselves going down a dangerous path if the AGCO lets this multinational corporation squeeze through a loophole and bring alcohol sales to convenience stores,” Thomas said.
“7-Eleven says it’s trying to make its stores into restaurants where alcohol can be served, but we all know the truth: kids and teens will find themselves shoulder-to-shoulder with intoxicated people washing down a Twinkie with a six-pack.”
According to the plan, alcohol would be served for consumption inside 61 Ontario 7-Eleven stores.
People have until Thursday to comment on the application which is now in the public notice phase.
Nineteen of the AGCO applications are for 7-Eleven locations that fall within Toronto’s city limits.
Wednesday’s city council meeting agenda features three motions requesting the city to file formal objections to the applications.
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A motion put forward by Councillor Frances Nunziata calls on the AGCO to deny the application for the 7-Eleven at Weston Rd. and Jane St. unless conditions are attached.
“There are concerns in the community that an establishment with a liquor licence can cause noise and disturbance to residents in the area,” the motion reads.
“If conditions are put in place, these concerns may be mitigated. Under no circumstance should the establishment be granted a liquor sales licence without conditions attached.”
None of these conditions were included in the motion, and inquiries to Nunziata’s office for more information went unanswered.
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
On Twitter: @bryanpassifiume
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