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Liquor stores in Saskatchewan are set for significant changes as the provincial government has announced the removal of numerous U.S. brands from store shelves. This decision affects over 50 popular beverages, including Bud Light and Coors Light beers, as well as hard seltzers like Vizzy and White Claw.
Interestingly, some of the affected products are produced in Canada. Brandon Geerts, president of LB Liquor, expressed confusion regarding the rationale behind the government’s choice to eliminate these brands solely based on their American origins, despite many being manufactured domestically.
“Most of this product is made in Canada with Canadian ingredients by Canadian employees,” Geerts stated, emphasizing the incongruity of the decision.
The impending ban means that stores will need to exhaust their existing inventory before these brands disappear entirely, and Geerts anticipates a swift sell-out. He plans to replace the empty shelves with an increased selection of Canadian and Saskatchewan-produced items. However, he acknowledged that this transition poses challenges, particularly for smaller businesses that must rapidly adapt to become larger suppliers.
This decision stems from earlier developments in March, when U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian goods and a 10% levy on Canadian energy, prompting the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) to reassess the American brands available for sale. The SLGA has indicated that it is actively reviewing which American alcohol brands should remain in circulation in light of these tariffs.
Industry voices, including those from Beer Canada and Restaurants Canada, have issued statements urging the Saskatchewan government to revisit this decision, highlighting the impact it may have on local businesses and consumers alike.
Source
globalnews.ca