The Bar Towel

cfrancis wrote:I understand they are both "government owned"

No it's not. This is one of the single biggest misconceptions in this province, and it holds back the "FUCK YOU BEER STORE" campaign aimed at ending its existence. It's owned by Inbev, MolsonCoors, and Sapporo. Seriously.

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/454836

cfrancis wrote: I understand they are both "government owned"

You understand incorrectly.

As for this Beer Store, I'd wager a large sum of money that it is simply a matter of lipstick on a pig.

DragonOfBlood wrote:

cfrancis wrote: I understand they are both "government owned"

You understand incorrectly.

Yeah, Dragon is right. TBS is actually a private enterprise. A shitty one, but private no less.

SteelbackGuy wrote:

DragonOfBlood wrote:

cfrancis wrote: I understand they are both "government owned"

You understand incorrectly.

Yeah, Dragon is right. TBS is actually a private enterprise. A shitty one, but private no less.

A private one that operates as a government licensed monopoly

Well, the Beer Store gave me a bit of a cop-out response:

mybeerstore @bartowel as many that wish to be part. Brewers choice. RT: @mybeerstore Boutique concept looks great - will it have many craft beers?
about 21 hours ago in reply to bartowel

Not surprising. Technically the brewers do choose which stores, but we'll have to see if those nice displays up front are Ontario craft or Stella and Bud Light Lime!

However, I don't want to knock them too much, it is a good idea and a step in the right direction for them. But hopefully this won't distract consumers from the issues that will still exist with TBS, no matter how they dress it up.

The_Jester wrote:

Belgian wrote:.... So maybe TBS is piloting a similar 'we're the same old thing, but we look better now!' idea into their operating philosophy....

It would be the same philosophy the Muskoka applied to their hefe, no?

YES! Boy was I pissed off when I realized they had simply repackaged it. Not a bad Weizen, but kinda misleading to position it as a Special Seasonal Blahblahblah. I tried to send feedback via their website, but it didn't work (how conveeeenient.....).

JesseM wrote:

cfrancis wrote:I understand they are both "government owned"

No it's not. This is one of the single biggest misconceptions in this province, and it holds back the "FUCK YOU BEER STORE" campaign aimed at ending its existence. It's owned by Inbev, MolsonCoors, and Sapporo. Seriously.

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/454836

I know it's operated by the majors but don't they have to return a stipend to the provincial government as LCBO does?

cfrancis wrote:I have to think that the Beer Store is sick of losing market share to the LCBO and their craft beer sales.

I don't personally care what the store is like. I would happily shop at a 1950s style LCBO where I feel out a little card and they hand it to me in a paper bag if they had the best selection.

Cass wrote:However, I don't want to knock them too much, it is a good idea and a step in the right direction for them. But hopefully this won't distract consumers from the issues that will still exist with TBS, no matter how they dress it up.

This is their response in the control and manipulation game that is brewers retail. The only reason this new concept exists is to put on a dog and pony show for the gov observers that they already control. LCBO craft sales are skyrocketing and their are fewer and fewer reasons for the beer store to exist based on its original mandate as a "controlled, non-profit" method of distributing beer for many Ontario brewery owners after prohibition.

Now the 3 owners are foreign owned and do not kid yourself - These guys have figured ways to funnel billions out of this system for decades (my opinion). We (the OCB) have suggested our own distribution system to the government a number of times in the interest of an actual 'fair' system of distribution and we are growing ...so, guess what... they are beginning to listen.

If the Beer Store would agree to eliminate the Ice Cold Express option completely within a year and open up a self serve system for every store, I would think that there may be hope but this nonsense is simply pandering to the peons to confuse the issue.

cfrancis wrote:
I know it's operated by the majors but don't they have to return a stipend to the provincial government as LCBO does?

I think they only have to pay the alcohol taxes, not a dividend like the LC

What would it take to systematically remove The Beer Store from Ontario? Is there a set of clear legal mandates that support this initiative? How would this be done?

Rob Creighton wrote:We (the OCB) have suggested our own distribution system to the government a number of times in the interest of an actual 'fair' system of distribution and we are growing ...so, guess what... they are beginning to listen.

Can you please elaborate on that point? What has the government done that tells you that they are beginning to listen?

Cass wrote:Well, the Beer Store gave me a bit of a cop-out response:

mybeerstore @bartowel as many that wish to be part. Brewers choice. RT: @mybeerstore Boutique concept looks great - will it have many craft beers?
about 21 hours ago in reply to bartowel

Not surprising. Technically the brewers do choose which stores, but we'll have to see if those nice displays up front are Ontario craft or Stella and Bud Light Lime!

Quite the 'Machiavellian strategy'. Displace the responsibility for a deliberate imbalance in power. Act as though the disempowered are at fault for 'doing nothing.'

The more I think about it, their listing fee would probably have to change in order for the boutique store to be anything more than a self-serve TBS with a bit of lipstick.

But then if it's a separate system (perhaps evolving to more than one store), why is it even the foreign-owned TBS? So we can see fancy imports on display?

I wonder if it'll be refridgerated? That's about the only thing TBS has going for it.

Belgian wrote:

Cass wrote:Well, the Beer Store gave me a bit of a cop-out response:

mybeerstore @bartowel as many that wish to be part. Brewers choice. RT: @mybeerstore Boutique concept looks great - will it have many craft beers?
about 21 hours ago in reply to bartowel

Not surprising. Technically the brewers do choose which stores, but we'll have to see if those nice displays up front are Ontario craft or Stella and Bud Light Lime!

Quite the 'Machiavellian strategy'. Displace the responsibility for a deliberate imbalance in power. Act as though the disempowered are at fault for 'doing nothing.'

Well put. And so blatant to anyone with a modicum of insight. Unfortunately, the typical beer store customer is not bothered by subtleties, so long as they don't impact the availability of their cold 2-4 of Brand X.