I'm in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
US border at Niagara Falls, NY is approximately 100km away.
Beer is not available in grocery stores, or any other type of shop. Beer is only available at "LCBO Store, which is the Liquor Control Board of Ontario store, and at "The Beer Store" (real name) shops which are owned 50/50 by Labatt's (which is owned by Interbrew) and by Molson. They are given exclusive private retailing of ALL beers in Ontario by a private patronage monopoly system. All beers must go through them or the LCBO. They are extremely politically powerful. You all can see how the free market is eliminated here in regards to distribution, thus affecting price and availability.
Most major beers in the world, and many microbrews are available at these two stores. The Beer Store concentrates on Canadian beers and major world beers (frokm companies who can afford the special "listing" (extortion) fees to sell to them , while the LCBO sells all types of quick selling beer.
Prices in Ontario must be uniform throughout the whole province. There are no restrictions on alcohol content and Canada is known for high alcohol beers. Even 10%+ beers are sold in Canada. Prices must meet minimum pricing standards. It is currently $24(CDN)=$18(US) for
24x341ml=8L case of beer. $2.25US per litre. Additional fees are mandated for canned beer. (To protect high paying union jobs from imports which usually come in cans)The price for a case of beer is $34(CDN)=$25.50(US) for Labatt Blue or Molson Canadian (the popular beers). $3.20US a Litre. The cheapest is Lucky Lager at $24(CDN)=$18(US) a case. $2.25US a litre. A 4 500ml can pack of Guinness in cans is $10.25CDN=$7.75US. $3.88US a litre.
In Ontario beer may be sold from 9am-9pm Monday to Saturday, and
11am-6pm on Sunday.In NY State beer is available in grocery stores, gas stations, liquor stores, etc. A case of Budweiser (24 x 355ml) is $16US, or $1.85 a litre. This is the best selling brand. The best selling sub-premium brand is Busch which comes in 30 x 355ml and sells for $11. $1.05 a litre. Guinness is sold in bottle packs of 6 x 330 for $7.99US, or $4US a litre. Same price and size for Corona the best selling import.
Beer is sold in NY State from 7am-11pm Monday-Saturday, and 12pm-12am on Sunday (not all areas). Dedicated Liquor Stores may only sell wine and liquor.
A pint of beer (20oz or approximately 600ml) in Toronto is $5 for a domestic or $6 for an import at a nice restaurant or pub. $6.25US and $7.50 a litre respectively. Posh bars cost more. "Working Man's bars sell beer for as low as $2.5 a 341ml domestic bottle, or $6.6US a litre. By law you will not find lower price. Bars stop serving at
2am in Ontario, and take your beer away at 2:45am finished or not. Bars can start serving at 11am 7 days a week.In NY State the prices are generally the same as in Ontario coincidentally. Must be the heavy liquor license fees in the US.
Bars in NY close in some places around Buffalo, Albany, and New York City at 4am. In others 2am. Many places do not serve alcohol on Sundays.
Hope this helps.