7-Eleven is letting customers drink booze in-store, but there’s a catch

Starting this September, 7-Eleven stores in Ontario will resemble bars as the convenience chain introduces alcohol sales.

Thanks to the province’s new laws, Canadian beer and wine enthusiasts will now have the opportunity to purchase alcohol from convenience stores. However, 7-Eleven is going above and beyond by offering additional options.

The chain successfully obtained liquor licenses for all but two of its stores in Ontario. This means that customers will be able to sit down and enjoy a cold beverage at the majority of its locations.

According to a recent news article (https://toronto.citynews.ca/2024/08/08/ontario-7-eleven-booze-for-takeout-in-store-drinking/), 7-Eleven plans to introduce designated dining areas with a minimum of ten seats. However, to maintain separation from the rest of the store, a 32-foot wall will be installed. These dining sections will serve beer and wine between the hours of noon and 11 PM.

Customers can soon drink booze at 7-Eleven stores.

Although customers will not be permitted to take their drinks out of the stores, they will still have the option to purchase beer and wine for takeaway should they prefer not to consume their alcohol inside.

During an interview with 680 NewsRadio, Marc Goodman, the vice president and general manager of 7-Eleven Canada, stated that their initial launch of this program will be in Ontario, but they have intentions to eventually extend it to other provinces across the country.

The speaker expressed their confidence that it would attract traffic and stated that their goal was to stay competitive in the market. They also mentioned that collaborating with the government during this process has been a pleasant experience.

Despite the appeal of purchasing a beer from 7-Eleven, there are those who express worries about the potential for increased alcohol consumption at convenience stores.

Nothing screams “I need a life”more than grabbing a table and a beer at a 7-Eleven.

— Larysa Dub (@LarysaDub) August 8, 2024

One X user commented on the news, warning Ontario to be prepared for brawls similar to those seen at Waffle House.

“Another person commented that grabbing a table and a beer at a 7-Eleven is a clear indication of needing a life.”

Despite the numerous counterarguments, there have also been many opposing viewpoints. One user, in defense of the decision, stated, “Those complaining about alcohol being sold in 7-Elevens have simply lost faith in Ontarians. Japanese and Korean 7-Elevens have successfully managed alcohol sales.”

People whining about alcohol in 7-Elevens actually have lost faith in Ontarians.Japanese and Korean 7-Elevens do just fine with it.Don’t fix 7-Eleven with policy. Fix your society.

— Stephen Taylor (@stephen_taylor) August 9, 2024

In addition to this thrilling update, 7-Eleven has more plans in store. Back in July, the chain revealed that it would be bringing its Japanese food menu to US stores as part of a major overhaul.