Buck-a-beer plans already off to bad start as small breweries hit back
By Callum Gunn
Buck-a-beer will be approved in Ontario by Labor Day but it is already off to a bad start as small businesses are hitting back at the plans as they just can’t afford it.
You truly get what you pay for. That’s what the small breweries around Ontario believe, as the Progressive Conservatives in Ontario continue on with the buck-a-beer promise. This was mentioned during this year’s electoral campaign in the Canadian province and now Doug Ford wants it in by Labor Day.
Sure, it’s a good marketing ploy, but the small breweries are already living on tight budgets. They can’t justify reducing costs to face off against the bigger breweries that can. Ford says that the buck-a-beer isn’t mandatory and there are no subsidies and tax breaks, but that’s not the point, is it? It’s just another case of the provincial government not really looking at the state of affairs for small business owners.
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The buck-a-beer program is only on beer, so those that offer wines, ciders, and spirits won’t be reducing their prices too. It is also only on beers of 5.6% alcohol content or less, according to CBC. Many craft breweries do tend to have higher percentage alcohol, so it won’t affect them.
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Watch live: Doug Ford unveils 'buck a beer' program. Ontario premier vowed during election he'd lower the minimum price of beer, but it's up to the breweries to decide what to charge. https://t.co/JO2vDaJGjr
— CBC News Alerts (@CBCAlerts) August 7, 2018
Ford’s idea is that the companies will have the chance to put on special promotions and limited editions at a lower price at the LCBOs and Beer Stores. This will help to draw attention to those brands and Ford says that this will lead to those brands being remembered and recognized.
Smaller breweries say this is a race to the bottom and any freelancer or small business owner will understand this. Others have said that they will keep prices as they are in order to pay their employees a living wage.
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What do you think of the buck-a-beer challenge? Will you follow the lowest prices or support the smaller breweries? Share your thoughts in the comments below.