The Canadian Association of Liquor Jurisdictions (CALJ) manual, Product Identification Standards for use in the Distribution of Beverage Alcohol, identifies the various types of bar code symbols used for beverage alcohol, their basic structure and the standards for their use. UPDATED May 2004.

This report is also available for viewing online using Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF). It contains the same graphics, typography, and layout as the printed version. You must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to view this report. If you do not have the Adobe Acrobat reader application installed on your computer, you can download it free from the Adobe Acrobat Web Page.

BACKGROUND
Established in 1962, the LCBO Agency Store Program provides retail access in a cost-efficient and socially responsible manner to beverage alcohol consumers who do not have reasonable access to an LCBO store.

Under the Program, the LCBO authorizes independent local retailers (usually operators of a grocery store, general store, or tourist outfitter) to sell beverage alcohol in conjunction with other goods sold. Agency stores sell beverage alcohol to the public at the same prices charged at LCBO stores or The Beer Store, however, the operator purchases beverage alcohol at a discount price. Agency Store appointments are generally awarded for a five-year term, though the LCBO may set a shorter term.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES
Customer Service
Customer service is a primary objective of the Agency Store Program. The LCBO is committed to providing improved levels of service and convenience to rural communities by partnering with existing businesses that can provide optimum hours of service, product selection and knowledgeable customer assistance.

Social Responsibility
Preventing sales to minors and to customers who appear to be intoxicated are key social responsibility requirements. Consequently, the Agency Store Program favours retail businesses that are less likely to attract minors.

The Program is designed to ensure that the operation of agency stores meets service, safety, and administrative requirements and conforms to Ontario law. The Liquor Licence Act and its regulations may be ordered from Publications Ontario (1-800-668-9938 or 416 326-5300). They are also available on the E-Laws web site at www.e-laws.gov.on.ca.

Economic Benefits
The Program delivers economic benefits to host communities by stimulating local retail traffic and revenue, increasing employment for local residents, and broadening the community's business base. It is important that an Agency Store operator understands the local community and its particular needs, so preference is given to applicants whose manager lives in the community. Preference is also given to applicants who have been operating the host business for a minimum of about two years. 

COMPETITIVE PROCESS
The LCBO uses a competitive process to ensure that Agency Store operators are selected in an equitable manner.

Once a need for service has been identified and the LCBO has determined that the trade area would support an Agency Store, an advertisement is placed in the local newspaper(s) inviting interested retailers serving the trade area to apply. Respondents to the advertisement are sent application forms that must be completed and returned to the LCBO by a specific date.

After the deadline for submitting applications, an LCBO employee videos and completes a site survey on each business that has applied and meets LCBO requirements. The application forms, site survey reports and video are then submitted to the LCBO Selection Committee for evaluation. Based on selection criteria, the successful applicant is awarded the Agency Store Authorization.

Applications are evaluated on the basis of a range of criteria, including:

a)		Business location;
b)		Type of business and services offered;
c)		Store appearance;
d)		Size, layout and design of business and proposed location for beverage alcohol;
e)		Ability to accommodate core listing of products;
f)		Facilities for refrigerating products;
g)		Hours of operation;
h)		Volume of sales;
i)		Parking;
j)		Accessibility for physically challenged customers;
k)		In-store surveillance system;
l)		Retail and merchandising experience of the applicant and business manager;
m)		Personal history, including history related to any liquor licences issued to the applicant or business manager and history of any criminal convictions;
n)		Local residence of the applicant's business manager;
o)		Financial controls (e.g. revenue segregation);
p)		Inventory controls;
q)		Applicant's financial position.

OPERATION OF AGENCY STORE
There are a number of requirements for the operation of an Agency store. Below are the key highlights.

For further information about the LCBO Agency Store Program, please contact:

LCBO, Retail Planning Department
Marisa Kraus
Manager, LCBO Agency Store Program
Tel: 416 864-6778
Fax: 416 864-6862
E-mail: marisa.kraus@lcbo.com

Click here to view the Ontario government’s May 15, 2006 media release.

Last updated on May 17, 2006

In order to meet the needs of various religious groups in Ontario, the LCBO appoints sacramental wine vendors to keep for sale, sell and deliver sacramental wine for use only in religious ceremonies conducted by persons (such as priests, ministers or rabbis) authorized to preside at such ceremonies in a regular place of worship such as a church, synagogue or temple. Sacramental wine vendor authorizations, awarded through an application process, have a term of two year and an annual cost of $100 (to offset LCBO administrative costs).

Sacramental wine (defined as grape-based wine, brandy and cognac) is intended for use in religious ceremonies and may not be sold for use or consumption at any social events, including social events or occasions associated with or ancillary to religious ceremonies whether held on or off the premises of the place of worship. Social events include, without limitation, receptions outside of religious wedding, baptismal, first communion, bar mitzvah, bat mitzvah and ordination ceremonies. Wine, spirits and other beverage alcohol used for social events must be obtained through a government store. Sacramental wine vendors are not permitted to advertise, promote or market the purchase, sale, keeping for sale or delivery of sacramental wine. Also, they are not permitted to sell sacramental wine that is carried on the LCBO's General List of products.

The business activities of sacramental wine vendors are subject to audit by the LCBO's General Audit Department. This includes end-use audits of customers to verify that sales are being made to authorized persons for authorized purposes. Sacramental wine vendors arrange their own direct beverage alcohol importations into Ontario. Each month, they are required to pay a fee to the LCBO equal to 15 per cent of the gross sales of all sacramental wine sold in the previous calendar month.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) regulates the sale, service and consumption of beverage alcohol in licensed establishments to promote moderation and responsible use. It also ensures that casino and charitable gaming is conducted in the public interest, by people with integrity, and in a manner that is socially and financially responsible.

The Registrar of Alcohol and Gaming has the authority under the Liquor Licence Act for regulating and licensing of the following: liquor sales licences and endorsements, brew on premise facility licences, liquor delivery service licences, manufacturers' licences and manufacturer's representative licences.

AGCO is a quasi-judicial regulatory agency that reports to the Minister of Consumer and Business Services.

For more information on licensing:
Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario
90 Sheppard Avenue East
Suite 200-300
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 0A4
Tel: 416 326-8700
Toll-free in Ontario: 1-800-522-2876
Fax: 416 326-5555
Web site: www.agco.on.ca
E-mail: licensing@agco.on.ca

Business hours:
Monday to Friday
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.