Russian vodka is going down the drain literally. Amidst the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Canada and the US are standing robust to exhibit their backing for Ukraine. To do so, liquor stores in the United States and Canada will no longer have Russian alcohol. On social media, videos emerged of liquor shops and bar owners emptying bottles of vodka and removing stock from shelves.
Russian products, including Vodka, are no longer available on the shelves of Crown liquor outlets in many Canadian provinces. Peter Bethlenfalvy, finance minister of Ontario, said he was directing the Liquor Control Board of Ontario to withdraw products produced in Russia. All Russian-made products will not be available from 679 retailers in Ontario alone. The New York Post said that stores in Manitoba, New Brunswick, British Columbia, and Newfoundland were also taking similar steps.
“We strongly support the federal government’s efforts to sanction the Russian government,” Bethlenfalvy said in a statement. “We will continue to be there for the Ukrainian people during this extremely difficult time.”
Retailers in Ohio pull out Russian vodka with immediate effect
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the governors of US states namely Ohio, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania ordered state-run liquor stores to stop selling Russian alcohol and distilled spirits. Governor of Ohio Mike DeWine tweeted, “Today I directed Ohio Commerce to cease both the purchase and sale of all vodka made by Russian Standard; the only overseas, Russian-owned distillery with vodka sold in Ohio. Russian Standard’s vodka is sold under the brand names of Green Mark Vodka and Russian Standard Vodka.”
Over 100 bottles of alcohol were off the shelves and some dropped into the ground at the Jacob Liquor Exchange in Wichita, Kansas. Meanwhile, merchandisers in Ohio have pulled out alcohol from Russia with instantaneous effect. However, Canada has put out sanctions against Russia. On the other hand, the US has announced military equipment to help Ukraine in times of despair.