American booze pulled from BC Liquor Stores available at independent outlets
Two BC Liquor Stores in Kamloops were bustling this week as employees pulled American booze off the shelves including Jack Daniel’s American bourbon whisky, Tito’s vodka from Texas and Jim Beam Kentucky bourbon.
The action is in response to premier David Eby’s March 4 directive for BC Liquor stores to pull all products manufactured in Republican states off the shelves and not order any more, in response to U.S. tariffs.
Bourbon lovers will still be able to get access their favourite American go-to drinks at some independently-owned liquor stores while quantities last.
“Every liquor store got a letter sent out from wholesale operations telling us what’s going to happen,” Brock Center Liquor Store manager Amanda Smith told iNFOnews.ca. “Private stores can continue to get inventory from the warehouse but after that runs out we won’t be able to order it anymore.”
The BC Liquor Distribution Branch is responsible for the wholesale distribution of alcohol to private retailers and hospitality establishments in the province who have the choice of continuing to sell the products until they run out.
“It’s up to the stores if they want to pull them but we’re able to buy them until the product is emptied from the distribution warehouse.”
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Smith said most of the red-state products are bourbon based.
“Canada doesn’t make bourbon and lot of cocktails are made with it,” she said. “When people can’t buy it, it isn’t great if that’s all you drink.”
She's had negative responses from customers upset the supplies will not last.
Kamloops resident Jason Hewlett said he isn't concerned about the changes.
“Fortunately, I drink more than just American bourbon, so I’ll simply drink more Canadian whisky, or Scotch, and there’s lots of those options to choose from,” he said.
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U.S.-made liquor products from non-red states will not be affected, according to a media release by the BC Liquor Distribution Branch issued March 6.
BC Liquor is adding red maple leaf tags on Canadian-made wine, beer and spirit to make it easier for shoppers to support Canadian manufacturers.
The pulled products are marked as "currently unavailable" on the BC Liquor website.
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