Restaurant owners want “diplomatic discount” from LCBO

(Update)

Ontario restaurant owners want in on a deal the LCBO has with diplomats.

The Liquor Control Board started giving foreign embassies and consulates a 49% discount on beer, wine and liquor last month. The Canadian Restaurant and Food Services Association wrote an open letter to the board Tuesday saying the so-called “embassy” discount is an “insult” to hard-working business owners. Ontario restaurant owners currently have to pay full retail prices for alcohol. The LCBO says the practice of selling at a discount to embassies consular posts and international organizations has been available for many years. And it says it is required of this province and others under federal legslations and the Vienna Convention.