Local restaurants cry foul over new LCBO partnership with Uber Eats

Some local restaurant owners are raising the alarm after the LCBO’s announcement that Ontarians will now be able to order booze through Uber Eats.

As first reported by CityNews, anyone 19 years and older will have access to more than 500 different types of alcohol for delivery – everything from small beer kegs, to bottles of champagne – as part of a “time-limited pilot program,” according to the LCBO. There will be a $5.49 delivery charge added to the cost of the order on the Uber Eats platform.

Cindy Stern has owned Bistro on Avenue for more than 30 years and says this new partnership creates an uneven playing field.

“Our biggest business is through delivery and I think that’s going to hurt us,” she tells CityNews.

“With delivery of alcohol the rule is that restaurants always have to accompany it with food. So a customer can’t just order through Uber East, strictly alcohol – it has to be with food,” explained Stern. “So again that puts us at a disadvantage because they can just call up the LCBO, wo doesn’t have to supply food.”

While restaurants are taking issue with the new arrangement, Mothers Against Drunk Driving Canada (MADD) has come out in support of the initiative, noting that it means drinkers won’t be driving themselves.

“Even one drink is one too many, so now, if they need something, they can have it delivered right to their door, rather than taking the risk of driving to the store impaired,” the organization said in a statement.

This is not the first time the LCBO has offered liquor delivery through an app. In December of 2020 the LCBO partnered with Skip the Dishes, but that move was quickly cancelled by the Ford government in a show of support for restaurants.

CityNews asked the province why this partnership was allowed to be reintroduced and was told it is an issue for the LCBO.