Where did all the American booze actually go?
As part of Ontario’s response to sweeping U.S. tariffs on Canadian products, American alcohol was promptly stripped from LCBO shelves province-wide on Tuesday.
Wondering where the Kentucky bourbons and California wines actually went, Village Media reached out to the LCBO to see where, specifically, the bottles are being stored while the trade war persists.
The LCBO was tightlipped about the location of the now contraband hooch.
“At the direction of the government of Ontario, we have stopped purchasing all U.S. products and U.S. products are no longer available for sale,” the LCBO told SooToday in a statement.
“Products will be stored until further notice.”
The LCBO also did not answer a question about whether there were discussions to sell American alcohol already on hand, and then cease to order new inventory.
Close to $1 billion in American alcohol is sold through the LCBO each year.
“LCBO is the importer of record for all U.S. alcohol products into Ontario, with annual sales of up to $965 million,” the statement said.
“We currently list more than 3,600 products from 35 U.S. states.
“U.S. products will not be purchased by LCBO until the LCBO is directed to resume normal business.”
Village Media asked whether we could photograph the American alcohol at its current resting place, but were instead directed to numerous stock photos showing hands removing the bottles from LCBO shelves.