70% SAY BEER STORE PROPOSAL NOT ENOUGH

January 29th, 2015. A new Mainstreet Technologies poll of 2,890 Ontarians of legal drinking age
finds 70% do not believe the reforms proposed by The Beer Store go far enough. The poll carries
an overall margin of error of +/- 1.82%, 19/20.
"It is obvious that most Ontarians are not aware of the ownership structure of the Beer Store,
said Quito Maggi, President of Mainstreet Technologies. "Its very clear once Ontarians learn
about the current ownership of the Beer Store they are not happy with the arrangement. 70% of
Ontarians do not believe the plan proposed by The Beer Store goes far enough."
When Mainstreet asked Ontarians what their preferred reform was 17% said opening up sales to
Convenience Stores and Supermarkets, 23% want to see the Ontario Government run The Beer
Store like the LCBO and 30% want to see The Beer Store run by Ontario Brewers.
How the sale of beer in Ontario is reformed has big implications, not just for the government
who is looking for new revenues, but also for restaurants, bars and craft brewers, noted Maggi.
There is certainly public support to do something bold, but what that will be remains to be
seen.
-30For more information or further comment:
David Valentin - (613) 698-5524 (Cell)
david@mainstreettechnologies.ca
Quito Maggi is available from Toronto.
Methodology
The poll surveyed a random sample of 2,890 Ontario residents of legal drinking age by
Interactive Voice Response (IVR) on January 26th, 2015. Margins of error are greater for regional
numbers.
About Mainstreet Technologies
Mainstreet Technologies is an emerging national public research firm. With 20 years of political
experience at all three levels of government, President and CEO Quito Maggi is a respected
commentator on Canadian public affairs.
Mainstreet has provided accurate snapshots of public opinion, having predicted a majority PC
government in Alberta, a majority Liberal government in British Columbia, and a majority Liberal
government in Ontario. Most recently, Mainstreet was the most accurate pollster in the Toronto
municipal election.

Who do you believe owns The Beer Store?

GOV. OF ONTARIO
CANADIAN BREWERS
MULTINATIONALS*
PRIVATELY OWNED
SOMEONE ELSE
NOT SURE

45%
19%
10%
11%
6%
10%

BREAKDOWNS

*MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS
19-34 35-49 50-64 65+
55%
41% 40% 43%
8%
20% 23% 26%
10%
10%
9%
9%
8%
13%
10% 15%
5%
7%
7%
3%
14%
8%
11%
4%
490
769
824 807

GOV. OF ONTARIO
CANADIAN BREWERS
MULTINATIONALS*
PRIVATELY OWNED
SOMEONE ELSE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

North
49%
15%
8%
13%
6%
9%
297

GOV. OF ONTARIO
CANADIAN BREWERS
MULTINATIONALS*
PRIVATELY OWNED
SOMEONE ELSE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE
SW = South West; SC = South Central

GOV. OF ONTARIO
CANADIAN BREWERS
MULTINATIONALS*
PRIVATELY OWNED
SOMEONE ELSE

MARGIN OF ERROR: +/- 1.82%, 19/20

TOTAL RESPONDENTS: 2,890

50%
21%
11%
13%
7%

Male
44%
18%
9%
11%
6%
11%
1340

Female
46%
19%
10%
12%
6%
8%
1550

East SW SC 905 416

41% 48% 37% 44% 47%
26% 16% 28% 17% 16%
9% 7% 10% 11%
9%
11% 12% 12% 11%
11%
5% 6% 6% 7%
5%
8% 10% 10% 11% 8%
557 379 411 558 688

Three foreign multinational companies currently own The Beer Store. Do you
approve or disapprove of foreign ownership of The Beer Store?
STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE

2%
15%
23%
45%
14%

BREAKDOWNS
STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

STRONGLY APPROVE
3%
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
18%
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE 27%
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE 53%

TOTAL APPROVAL
17%
TOTAL DISAPPROVAL 68%

19-34 35-49 50-64 65+

3%
1%
2%
3%
14%
17%
14% 16%
25%
21%
24% 22%
46% 46% 45% 44%
13%
16%
15% 15%
490
769
824 807
North
2%
19%
21%
43%
15%
297

Male
2%
16%
21%
47%
14%
1340

East SW SC
2% 3%
2%
15% 15% 17%
22% 23% 22%
44% 46% 46%
16% 14% 12%
557 379 411

TOTAL APPROVAL
21%
TOTAL DISAPPROVAL 80%

Female
2%
15%
25%
43%
15%
1550
905
2%
13%
24%
45%
15%
558

416
3%
16%
22%
44%
15%
688

The Owners of the Beer Store have recently announced a plan that would see
some ownership of The Beer Store opened to Ontario Brewers and a minority of
its board of Directors represented by Ontario Brewers. In your view does this
reform go too far, is it about right or does it not go far enough?
GOES TOO FAR
IS ABOUT RIGHT
NOT FAR ENOUGH
NOT SURE

4%
16%
70%
10%

BREAKDOWNS

18-34 35-49 50-64 65+

3%
4%
4%
5%
15%
17%
17% 17%
72% 69%
71% 67%
9%
11%
9%
11%
490
769
824 807

GOES TOO FAR

IS ABOUT RIGHT
NOT FAR ENOUGH
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

North
4%
20%
68%
9%
297

GOES TOO FAR

IS ABOUT RIGHT
NOT FAR ENOUGH
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

GOES TOO FAR

IS ABOUT RIGHT
NOT FAR ENOUGH

4%
18%
78%

East
4%
17%
69%
10%
557

Male
4%
17%
69%
10%
1340

Female
4%
16%
71%
10%
1550

SW SC 905
3% 6% 4%
15% 16% 16%
71% 68% 72%
11% 10% 9%
379 411 558

416
4%
17%
69%
10%
688

And what reform to The Beer Store would you prefer the most? Would you
prefer to see; Beer sales at Convenience Stores and Supermarkets, the Ontario
Government owning and operating The Beer Store like it does the LCBO,
opening up some ownership of The Beer Store to Ontario Brewers, mandating
majority ownership of The Beer Store by Ontario Brewers or Something Else?
C. STORES & SUPERMARKETS*
ONTARIO GOV. OWNERSHIP*
ONTARIO MINORITY OWNERSHIP*
ONTARIO MAJORITY OWNERSHIP*
SOMETHING ELSE*
NOT SURE
BREAKDOWNS
C. STORES & SUPERMARKETS*
ONTARIO GOV. OWNERSHIP*
ONTARIO MINORITY OWNERSHIP*
ONTARIO MAJORITY OWNERSHIP*
SOMETHING ELSE*
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

C. STORES & SUPERMARKETS*

ONTARIO GOV. OWNERSHIP*
ONTARIO MINORITY OWNERSHIP*
ONTARIO MAJORITY OWNERSHIP*
SOMETHING ELSE*
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

17%
23%
8%
30%
10%
11%

* PLEASE REFER TO SCRIPT ABOVE

FOR FULL LANGUAGE USED.
OPTIONS WERE RANDOMIZED.

19-34 35-49 50-64 65+

14%
18%
18% 18%
26% 24%
21% 23%
10%
6%
8%
9%
30% 30% 32% 28%
9%
11%
9%
11%
11%
11%
12% 12%
490
769
824 807
North
18%
25%
6%
30%
11%
10%
297

East
15%
25%
8%
31%
10%
12%
557

SW
16%
22%
9%
32%
10%
12%
379

Male
17%
22%
9%
30%
12%
11%
1340
SC
20%
21%
8%
28%
9%
14%
411

Female
17%
24%
8%
30%
8%
12%
1550
905
18%
23%
8%
33%
9%
9%
558

416
17%
24%
8%
26%
11%
13%
688

C. STORES & SUPERMARKETS*

19% ONTARIO MAJORITY OWNERSHIP* 34%
ONTARIO GOV. OWNERSHIP*
26% SOMETHING ELSE*
11%
ONTARIO MINORITY OWNERSHIP* 9%