While Ukrainians fight and die trying to repel an invading Russian army, most citizens of the West can’t do much but look on from afar, sending prayers and wishing them well.
But others have found a way to hit back at Russia economically and in a very unique way.
According to The Blaze, bar owners and patrons in the U.S. and allied countries are shunning Russian-made vodka as a way of protesting the invasion:
Numerous countries, including the United States, have launched sanctions against Russia for the invasion of Ukraine. Now, there will be local and state boycotts on one of Russia’s most iconic exports – vodka.
In Canada, Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy ordered the provincial Liquor Control Board of Ontario to have stores remove vodka and other alcoholic products from Russia.
“Ontario joins Canada’s allies in condemning the Russian government’s act of aggression against the Ukrainian people, and will direct the LCBO to withdraw all products produced in Russia from store shelves,” tweeted on Friday with the hashtag #StandwithUkraine.
Ontario joins Canada’s allies in condemning the Russian government’s act of aggression against the Ukrainian people, and will direct the LCBO to withdraw all products produced in Russia from store shelves.
#StandwithUkraine— Peter Bethlenfalvy (@PBethlenfalvy) February 25, 2022
“Ontario and the LCBO can’t say it’s truly standing with Ukraine while continuing to be Putin’s customer,” added Steven Del Duca, leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, according to Fox News.
Across Ontario, Russian-made liquor and products are going to be removed from around 700 businesses.
Canada’s Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corporation (NLC) also declared that it would yank Russian products off the shelves.
“The Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation, along with other Liquor jurisdictions throughout Canada, has made the decision to remove products of Russian origin from its shelves. These include Russian Standard Vodka and Russian Standard Platinum Vodka,” the NLC Liquor Store wrote on Twitter.
📢 The Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation, along with other Liquor jurisdictions throughout Canada, has made the decision to remove products of Russian origin from its shelves. These include Russian Standard Vodka and Russian Standard Platinum Vodka.
— NLC Liquor Store (@nlliquor) February 25, 2022
In the United States, meanwhile, liquor stores and bars in read and blue states — Kansas, Michigan, Oregon, and Vermont — are planning on removing bottles of Russian vodka from their shelves as a “protest against the aggression,” as reported by The Hill. Instead, those same stores will be promoting Ukrainian vodka more prominently.
Virginia State Sen. L. Louise Lucas, a Democrat, called on Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican to “order the removal of all Russian vodka and any other Russian products from our ABC stores immediately.”
On Saturday, GOP Gov. Mike DeWine of Ohio directed the state’s Department of 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.”
GOP Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas also requested that retailers in the Lone Star state voluntarily take down all Russian products from their store shelves as a protest against the invasion of Ukraine.
“I’ve asked the members of the Texas Restaurant Association, Texas Package Stores Association & all Texas retailers to voluntarily remove all Russian products from their shelves. Texas stands with Ukraine,” Abbott wrote on Twitter.
