The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that Ontario is expanding the availability of alcohol in the province, with a plan to allow beer, wine, cider, coolers and premixed drinks to be sold at convenience stores, grocery stores and "big box" retailers by 2026. The Globe's Laura Stone and Jeff Gray write that the new regime, which was announced Thursday, is set to take effect after the expiry of the 10-year deal the province has with the Beer Store, which is controlled by multinational brewers Molson Coors and Anheuser-Busch InBev. The plan aims to fulfill a marquee promise Mr. Ford and his Progressive Conservatives made when first elected in 2018 but then shelved after the Premier backed away from a potentially pricey legal battle with the Beer Store over breaking its contract. The move to expand alcohol sales was praised by business groups and retailers, but sharply criticized by community mental health and addictions organizations. The government says that by Jan. 1, 2026, beer, wine and some other alcoholic beverages will be sold in 8,500 more stores across the province. It will make Ontario the third jurisdiction in Canada to allow beer in convenience stores, after Newfoundland and Quebec.