CRAIGLEITH – As Ontarians prepared for the first long weekend of the summer season, a few Mac's "agency" stores stocked up on beer, wine and spirits.

The Mac's agency stores in Craigleith and Thamesford are permitted to sell alcohol products under Ontario's Liquor Control Act. Mac's has operated an agency store in Craigleith since 2002. The Thamesford store opened in December, 2012.

"We have a great supply of beer, wine and spirits at our Craigleith location," said Tom Moher, vice president of operations at Mac's Convenience Stores Inc. "We're ready and eager to serve our valued customers."

Moher, who oversees all 547 Mac's stores in the province, calls it "unfortunate" that the threat of a LCBO strike has caused thousands of Ontarians to be concerned about having an adequate supply of alcohol products to serve family and friends during the Victoria Day long weekend. He foresees the day when alcohol products are sold at Mac's stores throughout the province. 

"Certainly, the people of Ontario want it," he said. "A recent survey conducted by the Ontario Convenience Stores Association (OCSA), indicates that 67% of Ontarians want to be able to purchase alcohol products at their local convenience store."

Indeed, more than 115,000 Ontarians have signed a "Free Our Beer" petition, accessible at convenience stores throughout the province and online, requesting that the Government of Ontario permit beer, wine and liquor sales at convenience stores throughout the province. The highly successful "Free Our Beer" campaign, organized by the OCSA, is generating a great deal of attention.

"The people of Ontario are telling their politicians that it's time to modernize alcohol retailing in this province," said Moher. "Mac's is fully supportive of that change; we want to be part of an expanded system that generates additional revenue for the Ontario government. And the benefits go beyond additional revenue - they include the money the government can save by letting the private sector build facilities for the sale of beer, wine and liquor."

Currently, the company's CT division operates 665 corporate stores in Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador, which can sell beer. The company also sells beer at 3,000 stores in the United States, and 1,400 in Europe.