Big booze news

And Ford's next headache

ABOVE THE FOLD

While you were weekending — If you’re still emotionally exhausted from Sunday’s gold medal hockey game, Premier DOUG FORD had a consolation of sorts: allowing bars and restaurants provincewide to serve alcohol as early as 6 a.m.

It’s something the city of Toronto did for the entirety of the Olympics and has done for past major sporting events.

Loosening Ontario’s booze rules has been part of the Ford administration’s playbook over the last few years, and while the hospitality industry, including the Ontario Restaurant Hotel Motel Association, lauded the latest move, some wanted the province to go further.

“What I think would be even greater, [MARK CARNEY and DOUG FORD]? Please remove sales taxes permanently from the restaurant businesses to allow them to succeed all year round…not just for special events,” tweeted Bistro on Avenue, a popular wings joint among politicians.

That could be pushing it — Finance Minister PETER BETHLENFALVY was initially not keen on the idea o…