Province pushes to ban liquor sales in Winnipeg convenience stores

A Winnipeg 7-Eleven is shown in a June, 2023 image.

A new bill introduced by the Manitoba government could make alcohol purchases a little less convenient.

The NDP is putting forward legislation to ban liquor sales in convenience stores and gas stations in urban areas like Winnipeg.

Justice Minister Matt Wiebe cited safety concerns as a reason for the ban.

“Common sense says that a convenience store, where kids come to gather, pick up candy, get their Slurpees, this isn’t the kind of place where we want to have alcohol,” Wiebe said.

He added that there’s also additional pressure put on workers.

“There’s enough concern around safety for them now, and to add that easy access to alcohol adds a level of concern that we just want to avoid.”

Last year, 7-Eleven Canada announced it would add beer, wine, cider and ready-to-drink beverages to the menu at its 3031 Ness Avenue location after receiving a liquor service licence from the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba (LGCA).

The store was remodelled to accommodate the new menu options. As of December, customers could enjoy an alcoholic drink in-house.

A similar restaurant-style setup was also created at a 204 Fuels station on Salter Street.

If the bill is passed, businesses with existing licences would be able to continue selling alcohol, however, other urban-area convenience stores would be out of luck.

Cannabis sales at convenience stores

Similar legislation related to cannabis sales in Winnipeg and other urban areas was also introduced Wednesday.

If the bill passes, stores that require age restrictions to enter will be the only ones allowed to sell cannabis, preventing convenience stores from doing so, too. However, those already in business will be grandfathered in.

In response to the proposal, interim opposition leader Wayne Ewasko said his party has been in favour of offering more choice when it comes to liquor sales. He suggested the decisions from the NDP are ideological.

“I don’t know the specifics of that bill, but as you know, we had brought forward legislation in the past to bring more choice to Manitobans,” Ewasko said. “And it’s been this NDP government for ideology only, from what I can tell, is stopping that.”