HST could impact price of booze at LCBO

Queen's Park is ensuring that liquor prices at the LCBO won't drop when the HST comes into effect this summer.

Though the HST will actually lead to a four per cent drop in the price of booze, legislators have instructed the provincial liquor body to raise the shelf price of many products.

It appears that the government is being careful not to lose too many dollars because of the new tax, which is supposed to be revenue neutral.

The LCBO funnels billions of dollars into provincial coffers each year.

The LCBO's Chris Layton said that he has been instructed to keep prices constant on many products when the HST comes into effect on July 1.

Still, there is a chance that prices could fall on some products.

Layton told CTV Toronto's Paul Bliss on Thursday that the LCBO won't know until June which products will be affected

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  The Ontario government is offering one-time payments of up to $1,000 for families and $300 for singles to offset the initial impact of the HST.