Over the last few years, the U.S.-based convenience chain has pushed to get liquor licences for several of its stores around Ontario. Photo credit: 7-Eleven Canada
Hamilton’s 7-Eleven locations have been granted permission to sell alcohol in-store. There are two locations in Hamilton: a gas station and convenience store at 415 Melvin Avenue and a convenience store at 622 Upper Wellington Street.
The Licence Appeal Tribunal released its ruling on September 29, 2022, a few months after a hearing took place in June 2022.
The City of Hamilton was formally opposed to the decision and sent attorneys to argue against the issuing of a licence, saying that alcohol consumption at the 7-Eleven stores was not in “the community’s best interests.”
Adjudicator Geoff Pollock wrote that the City of Hamilton failed to produce sufficient evidence that the move would not be in the public interest.
“The proposal contains appropriate safeguards for ensuring safe alcohol sales,” he ruled.
Alcohol can be served to dine-in customers only in bordered-off sections of the stores and is thus not able to be served for take-out or delivery purposes.
7-Eleven told the tribunal that the blocked-off sections of their stores will have a mix of high and low tables to sit a maximum of ten people, that alcohol will not be allowed to leave those sections of the store, and that drinks will be kept behind a counter and served by staff that have their Smart Serve training.
Knowing that they would likely be on the losing side, the City of Hamilton also sought to have restrictions imposed on the 7-Eleven stores.
“Understanding that municipalities have had little success in achieving a denial of licences…the city will seek reasonable constraints to be placed on alcohol sales at these locations,” said a previous City of Hamilton release.
The city wanted 7-Eleven to limit alcohol sales to 4 PM to 11 PM only, post signage around the store with a phone number where customers could lodge complaints, and install a video security system to monitor the outside areas of each store.
Other licensed establishments in Ontario are allowed to serve alcohol from 9 AM to 2 AM.
The tribunal ultimately granted Hamilton’s Upper Wellington location a licence without conditions.
The Melvin Avenue store must follow conditions that include placing a sign near the exit reminding customers to be respectful to neighbours, installing security cameras outside, and affixing signs with details on how to lodge complaints.
7-Eleven already carries other age-restricted items such as lottery tickets, cigarettes, and vaping products and has been doing so for a “lengthy period” according to Pollock’s decision.
They have reportedly not had “a single by-law infraction” or complaint registered against them during that time.
Offering alcohol is meant to complement 7-Eleven’s variety of hot meal items. They also intend to add other “fast foods” to the menu.
The ruling did not mention exactly when a licence would be issued to the two 7-Eleven locations, but merely that objections to the liquor licence issuing were invalid.
Since 2021, a handful of 7-Eleven locations around Ontario have been awarded liquor licences, including stores in Toronto, Brampton, Sarnia, and London.
Based in Hamilton, Ontario, Kevin Geenen reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on social media. He is a regular contributor with The Hamilton Independent and has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. He is known for Hamilton Neighbourhood Watch crime updates and no-nonsense news graphics. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa and later graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. He also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal from Governor General David Johnston and formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. He is currently employed as an Office Administrator at RE/MAX Escarpment. His journalistic work is independent of his other positions.
Based in Hamilton, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
