Best Places To Buy Buck-A-Beer In Ontario

Buck-a-beer was a campaign slogan used by the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, led by Doug Ford, during the 2018 Ontario general election. The party pledged to lower liquor pricing in the province, reducing the minimum price of beer from $1.25 to $1. The policy was short-lived and faced criticism from craft brewers and public health and safety groups. As of 2020, an Ontario beer writer, Jordan St. John, noted that beer prices in the province had increased by about 10% since the implementation of the Buck-a-Beer plan.

Doug Ford's campaign slogan

During the 2018 Ontario general election, Doug Ford's campaign slogan was "buck-a-beer", a pledge to lower the price of beer in the province. The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, led by Ford, promised to reduce the minimum price of beer from $1.25 to $1, a price that had not been seen since 2008.

The "buck-a-beer" slogan was part of a wider populist campaign strategy, tapping into a "kitchen table issue" for many voters. It proved to be a catchy and effective slogan, with "buck-a-beer" being the second most searched term related to "Doug Ford" ahead of polling day. The Progressive Conservatives went on to win a majority in the election, capturing 76 of the 124 seats in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

However, the "buck-a-beer" policy faced significant criticism and opposition. Most craft brewers in the province rejected the policy, arguing that it was not feasible for them to reduce prices without incurring losses or compromising the quality of their beer. They also expressed concerns about the government's plans to offer prime shelf space in LCBO stores to companies that participated in the policy, which could negatively impact the sales of smaller breweries. Public health and safety groups also criticised the policy, warning that promoting cheap beer could lead to increased alcohol consumption and related problems.

Despite the criticism, Ford defended the policy, stating that it addressed a key issue for voters. Initially, only three breweries participated in the policy: Barley Days Brewery, Cool Beer Brewing Company, and the President's Choice brand of beer. Over time, however, the number of participating breweries decreased, with Cool Beer Brewing being the only one still offering the deal by the end of January 2019, and only on holiday long weekends.

While "buck-a-beer" was a successful campaign slogan for Doug Ford, the policy's implementation faced challenges and ultimately had a limited impact on beer prices in Ontario.

Buck-a-beer in Ontario

Buck-a-beer was a campaign slogan used by the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, led by Doug Ford, during the 2018 Ontario general election. The party pledged to lower liquor pricing in the province, reducing the minimum price of beer from $1.25 to $1.

The policy was launched in August 2018, with Ford defending it from critics by stating that it was a "kitchen table issue" for voters. However, the policy saw low adoption by breweries and resellers, with only three breweries participating: Barley Days Brewery, Cool Beer Brewing Company, and the President's Choice brand of beer. By the end of January 2019, Cool Beer Brewing was the only brewery still participating, and they restricted the buck-a-beer pricing to holiday long weekends, citing sustainability concerns.

Some experts and Ontario craft beer writers argued that the policy ultimately had the effect of increasing beer prices in the province by as much as 10%, as loosening restrictions on pricing allowed companies to charge more. Additionally, most craft brewers in the province rejected the policy, arguing that it would be impossible for them to reduce prices without losing money or compromising the quality of their product.

Public health and safety groups also opposed the policy, expressing concerns about the impact of cheap beer on drinking habits and the potential for increased alcohol-related problems, including impaired driving.

Despite the low adoption and criticism, the Buck-a-Beer policy received significant attention during the election campaign, and it is believed to have contributed to the Progressive Conservative Party's victory, with the party winning 76 out of 124 seats in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

Beer pricing in Canada

The "buck-a-beer" policy was officially launched in August 2018, with the government lowering the minimum price of beer from $1.25 to $1. However, the policy saw low adoption by breweries and resellers, with only three companies participating: Barley Days Brewery, Cool Beer Brewing Company, and the President's Choice brand of beer. Craft brewers in the province rejected the policy, arguing that it would be impossible to implement without sacrificing the quality of their product or the financial stability of their business.

The "buck-a-beer" policy also faced opposition from public health and safety groups, who raised concerns about the potential impact of cheap beer on drinking habits and alcohol-related problems. Despite the criticism, the Ford government defended the policy, stating that it addressed a "kitchen table issue" for many Ontarians.

In the end, the "buck-a-beer" policy had a limited impact on beer prices in Ontario. By the end of January 2019, only one brewery, Cool Beer Brewing Company, was still offering the $1 beer, and only during holiday long weekends. Additionally, some experts argued that the policy ultimately led to an increase in beer prices in the province by removing restrictions on pricing and allowing companies to charge more.

Overall, the "buck-a-beer" policy highlighted the complexities of alcohol pricing regulations in Canada and the differing perspectives of various stakeholders, including consumers, brewers, and public health advocates. While the policy may have been popular with some voters, it faced significant challenges and ultimately had a limited impact on the affordability of beer in Ontario.

Beer pricing in Quebec

Quebec has some of the lowest beer prices in Canada. The average value of a case of 24 commercial 355-ml beers in Canada is $49.17 CAD, while in Quebec, a case of 24 beers costs around $37.82. Quebec also has the lowest prices for cases of 12 beers in the country, at about $22.54.

However, Quebec has the most expensive 473ml cans of classic India Pale Ale (IPA) in the country. In comparison to Ontario, Quebec craft beer is expensive due to small production volumes that prevent economies of scale, multiple taxes (excise, stamp tax, provincial tax, and sales tax), and the retailer's "commission". An IPA craft beer costs about $1.50 more in Quebec than in Ontario. Even Quebec beers sold in Ontario's liquor store chain are roughly a dollar cheaper per unit.

The minimum price of beer in Quebec is indexed each year to the Canadian inflation rate of the previous year, as of April 1. For example, in 2021, the minimum beer prices were raised by 0.7% across various categories of alcohol. The minimum price of a 24-pack of Bud Light (4% alcohol) rose from $25.40 to $25.58, an increase of 18 cents.

Quebec's low beer prices can be attributed to its broader retail and distribution system, with more business models offering greater cost flexibility. Additionally, the presence of microbreweries may also be a contributing factor, although it is not the sole reason for the lower prices.

Buck-a-beer criticism

"Buck-a-beer" was a campaign slogan used by the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, led by Doug Ford, during the 2018 Ontario general election. The party pledged to lower the minimum price of beer from $1.25 to $1. The policy was criticised by craft brewers, public health and safety groups, and the Ontario New Democratic Party.

Most craft brewers in the province rejected the policy, arguing that it would be impossible to implement without losing money or compromising the quality of their product. They also expressed concerns about the potential impact of the policy on sales, as the government planned to offer prime shelf space and advertising incentives to companies that participated.

The policy was also criticised by public health and safety groups, who were concerned about the potential impact of cheaper beer on drinking habits and alcohol-related problems. Tim Stockwell, director of the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, stated that "From a populist political point of view, it might do (Ford) some good because a lot of people like the idea of cheap beer. From a public health and safety point of view, it’s a lousy idea." MADD Canada also warned that "Lower alcohol prices can lead to increased consumption, particularly among those with alcohol problems, and among young people, and that increased consumption can in turn lead to increased alcohol-related problems, including impaired driving."

The Ontario New Democratic Party opposed the policy, arguing that it was corporate welfare and demonstrated the government's misplaced priorities. They also criticised the government for its recent cancellation of the Ontario Basic Income Pilot Project. Liberal MPP Nathalie Des Rosiers stated that the policy was "the symbol of Ontario populism."

In addition, some experts argued that the policy ultimately had the effect of increasing beer prices in the province by as much as 10%, as loosening restrictions on pricing allowed companies to charge more.

Despite the criticism, the Progressive Conservative Party won a majority in the 2018 election, capturing 76 of the 124 seats in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. However, the buck-a-beer policy saw low adoption by breweries and resellers, with only three breweries initially participating. By the end of January 2019, only one brewery was still offering buck-a-beer pricing, and only on holiday long weekends.

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