Some Ontario grocery stores can start selling six-packs of beer starting today

The roll out follows a deal cut with The Beer Store earlier this year, which will eventually see 450 grocery stores stock the alcoholic beverage while at the same time protecting The Beer Stores interests.

It’s all part of a plan that will, over the next two weeks, see some 60 locations across Ontario begin to sell six packs.

There are 60 stores that are part of the initial rollout across Ontario, with the eventual goal of expanding sales to 450 outlets by 2017.

A sign went up on the outside of Brown’s Independent Grocer tonight: “Beer Here!”

It’s a change that has been 30 years in the making, with former premier David Peterson first proposing the sale of beer in grocery stores in 1985.

The hours are the same as any Beer Store and the prices will mirror the LCBO.

Store employees were spotted putting the beer out on the shelves at the east-end Loblaws Monday.

Six-packs will be available starting Tuesday at select grocery stores, including one in Toronto where Premier Kathleen Wynne will purchase the inaugural set of suds Tuesday morning.

The new arrangement effectively breaks the de facto monopoly The Beer Store has had on retailing beer in the province since the prohibition era of the 1920s.

By May, the province expects to approve 150 stores to sell beer.