Ontario residents of legal drinking age can now order beer, wine and spirits for delivery from the LCBO using the Uber Eats app, the delivery platform confirmed Friday.
Uber Eats spokesperson Keerthana Rang confirmed that the platform "expanded the number of merchants offering alcohol in recent weeks."
Rang said customers will need to confirm they are 19 years of age or older when ordering through the app and at the time of delivery before receiving alcohol.
Sobriety will also be confirmed at the time of delivery, the company says.
In accordance with provincial regulations, Rang said only Smart Serve-certified delivery drivers can deliver alcohol orders.
In addition to the price of the alcohol chosen, customers will pay a $5.49 delivery fee to have their order delivered to their doorstep.
In December 2020, the LCBO briefly offered alcohol delivery through Skip The Dishes.
However, the Ford government halted the service shortly after its launch following concerns expressed by several restaurant owners and Mayor John Tory.
Now, again, local restaurant owners are sounding the alarm by claiming that their biggest business is through home delivery. The rule for them is that alcohol delivery must always be accompanied by food. So, a customer can't just order strictly alcohol, it has to be with food," explained Stern.
They understand that if customers can now order directly from LCBO without having to order food it puts them at a disadvantage.