The LCBO has a near monopoly on the sale of liquor and wine in the province of Ontario. Grape grower and wine maker Steve Kocsis argues that monopoly should be taken away. “There are huge issues of unfairness in the marketplace and that goes right down to the viability of the grape growing industry,” he says.
Kocsis suggests that retail wine licenses be issued on the basis of land holdings; one retail store license for every 20, 30 or even 40 acres of orchard. Growers who don’t want to make wine could grant their licenses to someone who buys their grapes.