Beer Store makes deal to take Ontario grocery stores' beer and wine empties. 'There's no downside'

Ontario grocers are averting a dreaded requirement to take back alcohol empties from customers.

The Beer Store reached an agreement-in-principle, made public Wednesday, alleviating grocery stores in Ontario from the obligation to receive empties in-store as of Jan. 1, and instead allowing them to refer customers wishing to return empties to their nearest Beer Store.

Independent grocers had been alarmed by the requirement to collect empties citing concerns over food safety, logistics and costs, said Gary Sands, senior vice president of policy and advocacy at the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers.

But now they will have three options, he said: receive empties, stop selling alcohol, or sign onto the deal with the Beer Store.

“There’s no downside,” Sands said. “We’re just delighte