Bars in Canada and the United States sell Ukrainian liquor and withdraw Russian vodka

Liquor store owners have dumped Russian spirits from their shelves.

Liquor stores and bars in Canada and the United States have taken it upon themselves to remove Russian vodka from their shelves and only promote Ukrainian liquor brands.

This measure was taken after the war, against the Ukrainian territory, unleashed by Vladimir Putin. This act is just one of the long list of reactions against the violence that has been experienced in recent days in Ukraine.

The Distilled Spirits Council ( DISCUS ), which is a national trade organization representing manufacturers, says that the symbolism of this decision represents a small percentage of the approximately 7,000 million dollars in annual sales, in USA.

Signs of Civilian Disagreement

Owners of liquor stores and bars have been demonstrating in recent days against the Russian war in Ukraine.

Bob Quay, owner of Bob's Bar, in Michigan, commented in an interview for the Los Angeles Times that, on the morning of the attack, when he woke up to learn of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, he automatically wondered what he could do.

Quay, learning that the United States was already in charge of carrying out sanctions, he thought that he could also put sanctions.

Following this, it proceeded to remove the old Soviet brand Stolichnaya from its shelves, and began promoting the Ukrainian brand Vektor.

The man placed a sign on top of the bottle that read "Support Ukraine." When what he had done was made public, he received many immediate responses, people who had never visited the premises came to the bar.

Jacob Liquor Exchange in Wichita, Kansas, made a similar decision, so it began removing more than 100 bottles of Russian vodka from its shelves, spilling much of it on the floor.

In Indian Land, South Carolina, the liquor store Southern Spirits has started unique marketing of Kozak vodka, from the Ukraine, after removing all Russian brands from its shelves.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine also ordered the state Department of Commerce to suspend the buying and selling of the only Russian vodka sold in the area, Russian Standard. This vodka is sold under the Russian Standard and Green Mark brands.

Also, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu proceeded to sign an executive order requiring liquor establishments to remove Russian-made and branded alcohol.

Canada in support of Ukraine

Canada's Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy told the Ontario Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to separate Russian vodka and other alcoholic products from the country.

Approximately 700 stores proceeded to remove Russian products from their shelves.

Bethlenfalvy, detailed that Ontario also joined the Canadian allies as part of the condemnation of the Russian government's aggression in Ukraine. He added that they strongly support the efforts made by the federal government to order sanctions against Russia.

The Finance Minister concluded by saying that they will continue to support the people of Ukraine in this difficult time.

Other stores in different parts of Canada, such as New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Manitoba and British Columbia, have taken similar steps.