Cocktails, carbon, Chili Peppers

And provincial envy

ABOVE THE FOLD

CHEERS AND JEERS — DOUG FORD is upping the ante as negotiations between the LCBO and striking OPSEU workers hits a wall.

In a surprise move, Ford is rushing to get ready-to-drink cocktails and two-fours of beer on grocery store shelves — something the union is taking a hard stance against.

It means that the 450 grocery stores that are already licensed to sell beer, wine and cider can start ordering coolers on Thursday, and they’ll be able to start selling them right away, instead of August 1 as originally planned.

Official word from Finance Minister PETER BETHLENFALVY: “Our government is keeping our promise to give people in Ontario choice and convenience while supporting Ontario-made beverage producers across the province.”

Unofficially, Ford has scoffed at OPSEU’s demand to hit the brakes on expanding cooler sales — saying last week that ship has already sailed “halfway across Lake Ontario” — and this latest move is a policy shot across the bow of the union.

COLLEEN M…