Purchasing Beer With One Points: Is It Possible?

In Ontario, Canada, it is now possible to buy alcohol using loyalty points, coupons, or other deals. This includes beer, wine, cider, and coolers. However, PC points, which are a type of loyalty points, cannot be redeemed for alcoholic beverages. In the United States, the legal drinking age is 21, and this applies to both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beer. However, the laws surrounding the purchase of non-alcoholic beer by minors vary from state to state, with some states allowing it and others prohibiting it.

In some states, you can buy non-alcoholic beer if you're under 21

In the United States, alcoholic beverages can only be purchased by individuals aged 21 and over. However, the laws surrounding the purchase of non-alcoholic beer are less clear and vary from state to state. While federal law prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages to minors, it does not specify a minimum age for non-alcoholic drinks. This has led to a patchwork of state and local regulations, with some states allowing minors to purchase non-alcoholic beer, while others restrict it to those over 21.

In states such as Ohio, Alaska, Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia, individuals under the age of 21 are permitted to purchase non-alcoholic beer. In these states, non-alcoholic beer is often treated as any other beverage, and individuals under 21 are able to buy it without restriction. However, it is important to note that some retailers in these states may still choose to restrict the sale of non-alcoholic beer to minors due to the low levels of alcohol present in these drinks.

On the other hand, some states, such as Oregon, West Virginia, and Wyoming, restrict the sale of non-alcoholic beer to those under 21. In these states, non-alcoholic beer is regulated in the same way as alcoholic beer, and only those of legal drinking age are permitted to purchase it. This is often due to the fact that non-alcoholic beer does contain a small amount of alcohol, typically up to 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV). While this is significantly less than the 4-6% ABV found in traditional beer, it is enough to warrant age restrictions in some states.

In other states, the laws are less clear. For example, in Alabama, the sale of non-alcoholic beer is not regulated in wet counties, but it is prohibited in dry counties. Additionally, some states allow minors to consume non-alcoholic beer with parental permission or in the presence of a parent or guardian. These varying regulations can make it difficult for retailers to navigate the legal landscape, and many choose to restrict the sale of non-alcoholic beer to those over 21 to avoid potential legal repercussions.

While the laws surrounding non-alcoholic beer vary across the United States, it is important to note that the majority of states do not have age restrictions in place for these beverages. This has led to calls for clear and consistent age limits by some health researchers, who argue that non-alcoholic drinks could serve as a gateway to alcohol consumption for minors. However, others in the non-alcoholic beverage industry argue that self-regulation is sufficient and that government involvement is unnecessary.

In Ontario, you can use loyalty points to buy alcohol

As of September 5, 2024, you can use loyalty points to buy alcohol in Ontario. This change in rules was announced by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), which also stated that licensed convenience and grocery stores are no longer required to display all alcohol sold in a single contiguous product display area. This amendment allows retailers greater flexibility in how and where they display alcohol.

Rules for Using Loyalty Points to Buy Alcohol

While you can use loyalty points to purchase alcohol in Ontario, there are a few rules to keep in mind:

• Points must be applied equally to all alcohol products. Extra points for specific brands are not allowed.
• Rewards for the purchase of alcohol or the redemption of rewards cannot be subject to special offers or bonuses. In other words, extra points as an inducement for buying alcohol are not permissible.
• Loyalty points, coupons, tickets, or other rewards can be used as full or partial payment for liquor.
• Licensees may allow customers to exchange, convert, or redeem loyalty benefits for cash that can be applied to the payment for liquor.
• There is a ban on retail outlets offering free or discounted merchandise contingent upon the purchase of liquor.
• The Beer Store is the only location that accepts empty bottles, cans, kegs, cardboard packaging, bottle caps, plastic rings, and more for a deposit refund.

Examples of Loyalty Programs in Ontario

• Lake of the Woods Brewing Company offers a loyalty program where customers can earn 1 point for every dollar spent at the brewery before taxes. These points can be redeemed for free drinks, food, and more.
• Liquor Plus has a loyalty program where customers can earn 1 point for every $1 spent pre-tax. 100 points are equal to a $1 redemption value. However, BC Liquor Laws require that points be redeemed for gift cards for non-alcohol purchases only.

Regulatory Requirements for Licensees in Ontario

In addition to the rules regarding loyalty points, there are other regulatory requirements that licensees in Ontario must follow:

• Energy drinks and products that promote the immoderate consumption of liquor cannot be displayed immediately adjacent to liquor.
• At least 20% of the containers of beer, cider, wine, and ready-to-drink beverages on display must be produced by small breweries, cideries, or wineries.
• Beer, wine (including cider), and ready-to-drink beverages must not be in containers larger than 5 litres.
• Convenience store licensees must purchase all liquor from the LCBO and sell it in the original packaging.
• Convenience stores may only sell beer, ready-to-drink beverages, and cider with an alcohol content of no more than 7.1% by volume, and wine (other than cider) with an alcohol content of no more than 18% by volume.

PC points can't be redeemed for alcoholic beer in Ontario

In Ontario, PC Optimum points cannot be redeemed for alcoholic beverages, including beer. While PC Optimum points can be earned and redeemed for groceries and certain other items, there are restrictions on what can be purchased with the points.

According to the PC website, "points are not redeemable against the purchase of tobacco, lottery tickets, alcohol, prescription medication, milk in Quebec, or any products or services prohibited by law or as we determine from time to time." This restriction applies in Ontario, where alcoholic beer is considered a regulated product and is not eligible for purchase with PC points.

However, it's important to note that the rules regarding PC points and alcohol redemption may vary by province. For example, in Alberta, Loblaw expanded its PC Optimum program to include the ability to earn and redeem points on purchases of beer, wine, and spirits at select liquor store locations. This expansion allows Albertans to accumulate points and use them for discounts on alcoholic beverages, which is not currently possible in Ontario.

While PC points cannot be used to directly purchase alcoholic beer in Ontario, there may be indirect ways to utilize the points for alcohol purchases. For instance, earning and redeeming PC points for groceries could free up more disposable income that could then be allocated toward the purchase of alcoholic beverages. Additionally, keeping abreast of any changes to the PC Optimum program in Ontario could provide future opportunities to use PC points for alcohol redemption, should the regulations evolve.

Alcohol can be purchased with loyalty points, coupons, or other deals

Loyalty programs offered by beer retailers and subscription services also allow customers to collect points that can be redeemed for discounts or exclusive products. For instance, Beer Hawk in the UK has an omnichannel loyalty program called Beer Tokens, where customers earn points for purchases and non-transactional activities like friend referrals and leaving reviews. Similarly, Beyond Beer Club in Germany offers loyalty points for every purchase, which can be exchanged for discounts or exclusive products.

Some beer companies also have rewards programs that offer points for purchasing their products. For example, Coors Light Rewards provides points for buying 12-packs of Coors Light, with bonus points for completing profiles, taking pledges, and participating in trivia challenges. These points can then be redeemed for gift cards, merchandise, or event tickets.

Additionally, credit card loyalty programs and shopping portals can provide bonus points or cash back on alcohol purchases. For instance, certain American Express and Chase cards offer bonuses for spending with specific merchants, and shopping portals like CashBackMonitor or EVReward provide extra rewards for purchasing wine online.

Alcohol cannot be purchased with PC points in Ontario

This restriction applies to all participating stores in Ontario, which include Loblaws, Extra Foods, Real Canadian Superstore, Your Independent Grocer, No Frills, Fortinos, Bloor Street Market, Valu-Mart, Zehrs, Provigo, Maxi/Maxi, SaveEasy, Atlantic Superstore, and Dominion (Atlantic Canada).

While PC Optimum points cannot be used to purchase alcohol in Ontario, it is important to note that the program has been expanded in Alberta to include beer, wine, and spirit purchases at Real Canadian Liquorstore®, No Frills Liquorstore®, and Independent Liquorstore® locations. This expansion allows Albertans to earn and redeem points on a wider range of products, including alcohol.

It is worth noting that while alcohol cannot be purchased directly with PC points in Ontario, some users have suggested redeeming points for gift cards that can then be used to purchase alcohol. However, as of 2024, it appears that this loophole has been closed, and PC points cannot be redeemed for gift cards.

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