Beer and spirits will have a new minimum price come March 1st, each increasing by roughly 50 cents.  That means in Ontario you will not be able to buy a case of 24 beer for less than $29.35 and 750ml of spirits for less than $23.90.  This goes up from $28.80 and $23.40 respectively, not affecting drinkers of premium alcohols but no doubt giving your average hobo another 50 cents to scrounge for between binges.

Since Ontario politics are kinda boring when compared to Alberta, Quebec or even their federal big brother (or big sister for you feministas out there…)  The only thing exciting to happen in recent memory is when Conservative Leader Tim Hudak last spring, hinted at making available the mythic $24 case of beer.  Note that he only hinted and did nothing to actually say he wanted to move forward with a plan that would allow for cheaper beer at the provincially controlled beer stores… known throughout Ontario as ‘The Beer Store.’  If my wife looked like Tim Hudak’s I’d want by alcohol to be a lot cheaper than that… and I also wouldn’t be in politics so no one would care when I was caught with a hooker…  (except maybe my very unattractive wife)

The buck-a-beer or allowable $24 minimum price for a case of beer in Ontario disappeared back in 2008 under the same Liberal government we have now.  Fortunately for us who live along the Quebexico border, we are able to shuffle over and pick up large quantities of beer and cigarettes at a premium price!  The rest of you are not so fortunate though and have to buy it from Ontario’s liqour control board, the LCBO, and by March for a few cents more.

I have no credible news source for this but some other guys blogged about it at The Drinking Hat so it must be true.