Canadian and U.S. officials are up against the clock trying to finalize a trade deal, but one crucial piece of the puzzle remains in the hands of the provinces — the question of whether U.S. alcohol could be back on Canada’s shelves.
For more than a year, Canadian consumers across the country have gotten used to not seeing any American alcohol on the shelves of their provincial liquor stores.
Provincial boycotts of American alcohol have been a major trade irritant for U.S. President Donald Trump, who pointed to what he called “discriminatory” measures when he announced fresh tariffs on Canada last month, which were delayed until Saturday while both sides work on a trade deal.
Several premiers, including Nova Scotia’s Tim Houston and Manitoba’s Wab Kinew, have said that Prime Minister Mark Carney has asked provinces to restock American alcohol on their shelves as Canada finalizes that new trade deal, which could see Canada avoid these tariffs.
Most Canadian provinces, except Alberta and Saskatchewan, now have no U.S. alcohol on their shelves.
Carney’s request to put it back on does not guarantee that Canadians will jump for U.S. liquor the moment it is back on the shelves, Houston said on Wednesday evening.
“Whether Nova Scotians or Canadians will actually buy it when it gets back on, that’s a whole other discussion,” he said.
Global News put that question to its readers.
“Will you keep up a boycott of American alcohol even if it returns to shelves near you?” they were asked to weigh in on a recent article.
These are some of your responses.
What readers told us
The vast majority of respondents said they would not be buying American liquors, even if their premiers put it back on the shelves.
However, some said their shift would not be permanent.
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“I will continue to boycott whatever American products that I can until Trump is gone. After that, it will depend on the political relationship between our countries,” said one reader, Darren O.
Another reader, Dana S, said her boycott of U.S. booze will continue “until the U.S. decides to renegotiate a new CUSMA deal.”
CUSMA is short for the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement.
Many readers also said they would be boycotting all things American, including food products and travel.
“Not a chance. No to all things American until they start acting like an ally,” said Rich P.
“I won’t visit the U.S. until they return to sanity,” said Sean W.
For some readers, the move was tied directly to Trump and his Republican party.
“When I do start buying US products, it will be from states like California, not the states that support the Republicans,” Greg P wrote in.
Reader Wally M pointed to Trump’s “demeaning manner” towards Canada as being a key reason behind the boycott.
Others, like Terry T, said there was “no going back” to U.S. liquor, regardless of what trade deal is reached: “I will never buy US booze whether on the shelves or not.”
“I will definitely not be buying US alcohol again,” Janine O said.
“I’m not likely to ever buy another US product ever,” Mitzi B said.
The reasons for wanting to boycott U.S. liquor were different for different readers.
“Neither I nor my husband will be buying U.S. alcohol ever again. Our primary reason, however, is not to punish the United States but to support our own producers here in Canada,” Diana G said.
The ‘Buy Canadian’ sentiment emerged as a driving force among readers.
“I will not be buying American Alcohol or products and focus on supporting our local and Canadian economies,” said Bruno G.
Some readers who were interested in purchasing foreign liquor said they would look for non-U.S. foreign alcohol instead.
“I try to buy Canadian if available. If not, I look for non-US alternatives,” said Victor L.
Some users would prefer to buy non-U.S. alcohol but said cost would play a role in their decision.
“I will most probably abstain as much as possible from American products, alcohol included, provided that there are economically competitive substitute products from local or non-US international sources,” said William F.
There was, however, a minority of respondents who said they would resume buying U.S. alcohol.
The alcohol boycott “punished the U.S. businesses who were not the villains – from distilleries to distribution, but did nothing to deter Trump,” said Debbie B.
What the data says
The data points to Canadians souring on U.S. alcohol altogether.
Nearly seven in 10 (69 per cent) of Canadians in British Columbia, Ontario, Manitoba and the four Atlantic provinces said their provincial governments should keep the restrictions on American alcohol in place, new survey data released by Abacus Data revealed earlier this month.
Only 19 per cent want American products returned to store shelves, while 11 per cent are unsure, the survey of 1,363 adults added.
The provincial boycotts have caused significant economic pain for the U.S. alcohol industry.
From 2024 to 2026, there has been a 78 per cent drop in U.S. wine exports to Canada, marking a loss of US$357 million for the American wine industry, according to the Wine Institute, an American advocacy group for the wine industry.
Within a month of Canadian provinces announcing a ban on U.S. booze in 2025, sales of U.S. spirits in Canada fell by more than 66 per cent, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.
American booze should never have been removed from shelves.Let Canadians decide whether they buy it or not.Those who support the ban go home and jump on Facebook,Google watch Netflix,Youtube and order from Amazon.Don’t be a hypocrite cut off all your American media. Don’t google things use A.I. or watch American sports.
Will buy what I want
Normally what happens when something, anything, becomes unavailable, we find a replacement and move on. Their mistake for forcing us find replacements. I’d say we called their bluff, and they don’t like it one bit. As our PM said and I quote “Small acts of solidarity, but repeated millions of times, and together they make a statement. We are the masters of our destiny. We are the masters of our own home. 2026” Elbows UP Canada
Here in Alberta it is not banned and I get to buy whatever I want. Politicians should not tell us what we are allowed to buy. Cars will be next?
To Brian Bechard, Quote: “People are not representatives of their leaders.”
“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves and traitors are not victims… but accomplices,”
“The alcohol boycott “punished the U.S. businesses who were not the villains – from distilleries to distribution, but did nothing to deter Trump,”
“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, and thieves are not victims… but accomplices,”
you are a traitor if you buy anything american
I know for sure l won’t spend a cent on American products.
This propaganda needs to stop. People are not representatives of their leaders. Controlling people’s choices is bullying. It is the primary function of government. Yet so many people support this backward thinking. It is very depressing for the few of us who can think for ourselves.
Everyone detests bullies.
I will not buy usa products, and out of care for my health I certainly won’t buy usa food which is obviously not properly safeguarded.
LOL…why are Canadians so butt hurt. And on top of that, the retaliation is to not buy US alcohol products? Are ya’ll gonna stop shopping at Costco and Walmart and shop at Loblaws too? hahaha
Buying american is conceding to trump. True Canadians will not concede.
Under the liberals Canada has the weakest army in the G7 🤡
Not buying USA booze???
Oh wow! Tough guys 😂
Elbows Down 🤡
I have not missed any US booze since it left the shelves and I will not purchase any in the future if it ever comes back. They can keep their stuff and I will buy Canadian or other countries products first and foremost!
No.
Of course we will. Not everyone’s an Elbows up moron.
Heck no! The USA can shove it.
I’ll consider US products and visits… when That Guy is in prison or six feet under.
Will Buy Nothing From the United States
There comes a point when frustration becomes a decision. For me, that point has arrived.
I will buy absolutely nothing from the United States. I will not travel to the United States. And where I have a choice, I will not support American companies, products, or services with my money.
This is not a rejection of the American people. I have nothing against ordinary Americans, many of whom are decent, welcoming people who have no control over the decisions made in Washington. My objection is to the conduct of the U.S. administration and to a political culture that too often treats economic power as a licence to bully, pressure and dictate to the rest of the world.
The United States is extraordinarily powerful. That power should come with responsibility. Instead, too often, it is used as leverage: through tariffs, sanctions, threats, diplomatic pressure and demands that other countries fall into line. Allies are treated as though they are subordinate. International institutions are respected when convenient and dismissed when they are not. The message seems increasingly clear: do as Washington wants, or face the consequences.
I reject that message.
My response is deliberately peaceful and personal. I cannot change American policy on my own, but I can decide where I spend my money and where I choose to travel. Consumer choices may seem small, but millions of individual choices can become a powerful expression of public opinion.
I also believe that countries should be looking more seriously at their own resilience. We should diversify our supply chains, strengthen domestic businesses, support regional trade and reduce unnecessary dependence on any single country—whether that country is the United States or anyone else.
This is not about hating America. It is about refusing to accept the idea that the world’s most powerful country has the right to bully everyone else simply because it can.
So my position is simple: I will spend my money elsewhere. I will vacation elsewhere. I will support businesses and countries that I believe better reflect the kind of international relationship I want to see—one based on mutual respect rather than intimidation.
The United States has every right to pursue its interests.
So do the rest of us.
And I have decided that my wallet—and my passport—will be my way of saying so.
No f&cking way
Unfortunately for people who live in this house we no longer drink any kind of alcohol so we do not care if our stores put USA alcohol on their shelves or not. True story, many years ago we attended a dinner and tour of a plant in Calgary that produced alcohol and sold it to the USA. The gentleman who showed us the plant showed us one of those big black tankers with the pimple on top and he said that tanker was FULL of 100% CANADIAN alcohol that was going to the USA where THEY the americans would dilute it 1000 to 1 and make a fortune off the diluted alcohol. Not sure if they still do this since it was about 45 years or so ago now but it DID work like this all those years ago. Our alcohol IS REAL or a lot stronger then USA alcohol MAYBE.
Hell ya
stop all exports to USA. no more tariff problems. Stop all imprts from USA. No more problems. Trade with CHINA, RUSSIA, Korea. etc. Develop our own resouses. Instead of giving them all away for nothing. Yes it can be done. We are just to lazy.
You seriously have to ask?
I’m not part of the Elbozo’s crowd, so I’ll be buying whatever I want!
When these ppl stop using Facebook, Google, american made cars etc it’s all nonsense. Grow up, look at our horrible government over the last 12 years as the source of Canada’s decline. Not a convenient scape goat from South of the border!
Nope, not a drop. They can keep their rot gut and vinegar. There watery beer and garbage whisky. Give it all to the orange ape.
I never stopped buying it. It has been back on Alberta shelves a long time now I won’t buy overpriced Canadian stuff just for the sake of going Elbows Up
Unable to afford to purchase alcohol for the last twelve years.
Never. We are done with the Americans.
Absolutely not!!
Been prioritizing buying American since this hilarious boycott began and will continue to do so even more now. Elbows up, boomers lmao
One thing that this US boycott has taught me is that Crown Royal is delicious. I believe I’ll keep it Canadian.
Considering the fact that I don’t drink, I probably wont…
I won’t buy American booze for I have found better stuff here and from other countries.
This Canadian will
The ban is childish stupidity from adults having a tanatrum
From booze to weed – Prohibition has never worked. Look at history. The people will ultimately decide.
None of the crying Premiers will be holding out on this, because they know they will be completely destroyed politically for sabotaging the rest Canada by crashing the deal. At best all they can do is hide and make zero public statements (e.g. Eby and Ford).
@Anonymous. I’m part of the Elbows up crowd and don’t care where people shop. They should try to buy Canadian.
Used to buy Kentucky bourbon exclusively. Not any more. LCBO is one of the world’s largest alcohol purchasers. It’s a provincially control entity. Feds have no jurisdiction. Hope Ford holds the line in Ontario if required.
No. Didn’t drink it before not planning to start now. Guinness is my beer and single malts are my whiskey and tequila / vodka are my cocktail go to’s.
Publically, they may say otherwise for fear of getting harrassed from the Elbows Up morons, but everyone who purchased U.S. booze before will obviously go back to doing so.
The media can try to paint a different picture, but nobody trusts the media anymore for a reason.
Yes , should never been taken off by the bullheads, maybe ship them south with no tariffs
@Beniamino. The elbows up crowd don’t want you shopping in US owned stores they want you to shop in Canadian owned stores so yes it does matter were you shop as well as what you buy.
Of course. It’s idiotic they ever took it off the shelves.
@ Gord, I couldn’t agree more. I don’t care if they put it back on the shelf, I just hope people make the right decision. People don’t like it when the choice is taken away from them.
Bourbon blows Canadian Whisky away by miles, still buy Bourbon and always will.
Not only will I never buy US alcohol again, but I will never travel to the US again. During my lifetime I have travelled to many cities and states throughout the US both for pleasure and business. There are many cities I would love to visit again – but the comments from the President as well as many from regular US people caused me to NEVER want to go there again. There are many other places in this world to visit than the one who treats us with so much disdain.
yes. I usually buy based on what I like. Even though I dislike Trump, we’re in the midst of trade negotiations. Buying American beer is an act of good faith. But if negotiations fall through I will go back to buying Canadian. Lets see what Elbows Up can do.
Nope, not happening.
No. It could be free and I still wouldn’t get it.
You people are dumb. Just a few days ago you were blaming the liberals for not getting a deal, now you blame them for getting a deal, then blame them for now allowing you to make your own choice on what booze to buy, and now you are made that they are doing just that. Bottom line – it was a super smart play by Carney, giving the US the perception of a win when he knows that good Canadians will keep their current focus on Canadian products in reality.
Oh yes I’m going to stock up on the wine and on their whiskeys
Yes I will
How about we buy Canadian to help our neighbors instead of trying to hurt Trump?
The typical liberal is soaking in grievances and hate of whoever their enemy of the day is. This was s what drives them – not love or kindness.
TDS everywhere..
I’m not boycotting, but American booze is trash anyway – I don’t drink it.
I do have elbows up friends who started a boycott of US products and travel when this all started. Their prerogative. Go for it.
Where are they today? New Orleans on a cross country motorcycle trip LOL
Never stopped buying it.
The price is what determines what I buy not where it comes from, I have a fix pension budget so prices come first.
No I will not buy US alcohol
One can shop anywhere and still try to buy Canadian products. Thats the point, not where you shop
Ask the same people who will not buy American alcohol if they are going to stop shopping at Walmart, Costco, McDonald’s, KFC, Taco Bell, Starbucks, or any other American business that’s in Canada. I’ve see the type who will complain about the US, not buy their products; just before they enter Costco!