Ontario Adopts Temporary Measures to Support
Bars, Restaurants & Alcohol Retailers During the COVID-19 

When the provincial government declared a state of emergency in Ontario and ordered the immediate closure of bars and restaurants, except those offering take-out or delivery, ORHMA immediately advocated to enhance consumer choice to allow restaurants to sell beer, wine and spirits for home consumption as the mandated closures created a level of unfairness for restaurants and foodservice operators.


Our voice was heard and the provincial government has announced that bars and restaurants who offer take-out or delivery services are temporarily permitted to include the sale of beer, wine and spirits with their orders.

Effective immediately, licensed restaurants and bars in Ontario may sell alcohol with food take-out and delivery orders between the hours of 9:00 am and 11:00 pm. All active liquor licensees may immediately begin offering this service if they choose and there is no application process or fee required. Liquor may be sold for take-out or delivery through a third party, such as a food delivery service or ordering platform, provided they are acting on behalf of the licensee.

Various take-out and delivery models are sustaining many businesses in this uncertain time and allowing the sale of beverage alcohol with these models are needed now more than ever before. This is will greatly support the take-out and delivery foodservice sector during these challenging times. To read ORHMA's submission, click here.

We would like to thank those who took the time to strengthen our voice by signing the petition that was circulated by friends of the industry to promote and enhance consumer access.

We will continue to communicate with you with regular updates and outreach as we keep advocating on your behalf.
Together we will get through this!
Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA)
2600 Skymark Ave. Suite 8-201
Mississauga, ON L4W 5B2
www.orhma.com