Beer Store 3655 — Restaurant in Thunder Bay

I went in to buy alcohol-free beer (under 0.5% ABV, which Ontario law clearly states is not alcohol under O. Reg. 745/21). Despite explaining this, the staff member insisted on ID’ing me, saying “it’s still beer.”

I explained that fermented foods like sourdough bread naturally contain the same trace amounts of alcohol — and nobody gets carded for that. Health Canada even confirms that fermented foods like yogurt, sauerkraut, and sourdough bread contain ethanol at similar levels to non-alcoholic beer (Canada.ca – Ethanol in non-alcoholic fermented beverages). You could drink 100 of these beers and never get drunk. But she dismissed all of that, examined my ID for nearly 20 minutes like an FBI agent, and when I asked if they ID people for root beer, I was told “get out.”

The problem here isn’t just the rudeness — it’s that this policy completely defeats the purpose of alcohol-free beer. These products are supposed to be convenient and quick, so people don’t feel pressured to grab real alcohol while standing inside a beer store. If you force ID checks and delays, it makes recovering alcoholics and even younger people who just want the taste more likely to ask someone else to buy it for them — and at that point, they might as well just ask for actual beer.

For me personally, this hit hard. I’ve been in recovery for two years, after starting drinking at 12 years old. this nearly pushed me over the edge, and this interaction honestly tempted me to just buy real beer instead, because if buying non-alcoholic takes this long and stressful, what’s the point?

Alcohol-free beer exists to make life easier, not harder. This experience was frustrating, unprofessional, and dangerous for people like me who are trying to stay sober. I won’t be returning to...

A woman in her 50s asked me to remove my hoodie before she will sell to me despite the temperature being 7 degrees. Although I gently complied to avoid causing any trouble, I felt deeply embarrassed and discriminated against. This was especially uncomfortable for me as my hair was unkempt, making the situation even more distressing. I have been attended to by other staff at this store while wearing a hoodie without issue, and I have observed customers of other races wearing hoodies and being served without such...

I am absolutely appalled by only one employee that works at this location!! Everytime i come to the store the Older blonde haired women with glasses in Mean and grumby. I have always been kind and asked for what i need with politeness but she continues. I will go further and call the District Manager. This is terrible customer service period!!! I even apologize for doing this but she will not be nice,,,,,,,,,,,,i understand people have but days but this...