Convenience stores slam Beer Store ad showing kids buying alcohol

The battle between the Beer Store and Ontario's convenience stores over selling alcohol rageson this week, withthe OntarioConvenience Stores Association responding tolastweek'scontroversial commercialby theBeerStore.

The 30-second commercial, called Good Kids, shows teenagers easily buying alcohol from a corner store, and statesthat alcohol sales inconvenience stores is "just not right for ourkids."

Ontario Convenience Stores AssociationCEO DavidBryanssays he was "disappointed" by the ad.

"Convenience stores have demonstrated their ability toresponsibly sell age-restricted products with the highest standardsin the province of Ontario," saidBryans.

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Cigarettes and lottery tickets which are off-limits to thoseunder 19 and 18 years old, respectively have long been sold incorner stores, he said in a news conference in Toronto.

The campaign by the Beer Store sparked an uproar online and in themedia, with critics accusing it offearmongering.Some community groups have nonetheless rallied behind itsmessage.

"The reality is, you're going to have too many opportunities forpurchasing and too little control over the sale," said AnneLeonard, executive director of Arrive Alive Drive Sober.

Beer Store responds

The Beer Store, meanwhile, questioned corner stores' record whenit comes to turning away teens who try to buy cigarettes.

It pointed to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health's 2013study on student drug use, which found 15.6 per cent of Ontariostudents between Grades 7 and 12 who smoke had bought cigarettesfrom convenience stores, gas stations or grocery stores.

The idea of selling wine and beer in corner stores has beenaround for decades, but Ontario has so far refused to allow it,though other provinces such as Quebec have.

Ontarians"are not happy with the antiquated alcohol retailingsystem we have here,"Bryanssaid.

Many pointed out that theLCBOalready operatesout of some convenience stores in Ontario.

The province alsovowed to expand the availability of beer andwine, and earlier this month, said it would move ahead with plans toset up liquor store outlets in select grocery stores by the end ofthe year.