In support of Ukraine, which has suffered for several days from the Russian offensive, politicians and retailers have announced that they are withdrawing Russian products from sale.
After the banks and the Russian oligarchs, it is the turn of vodka to be targeted. As Vladimir Putin continues his offensive in Ukraine, politicians and retailers have decided to take a stand by boycotting the famous alcoholic drink.
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Starting with the United States where the beverage is now not found on the shelves of several states such as those of New Hampshire on a decision by Republican Governor Chris Sununu, reports the New York Times . On Saturday, the elected official thus requested the withdrawal of “Russian-made and Russian-branded liquors from our liquor and wine outlets until further notice,” alcohol being sold in state stores. Same instructions in Ohio where Governor Mike DeWine, also a Republican, announced the cessation of sales of Russian Standard Vodka. In the states of Virginia and Arkansas, governors have also called for such measures. “Throw away all the Russian vodka and, together with the ammunition and the missiles, send the empty bottles to Ukraine to use in Molotov cocktails”even said Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton on Twitter.
In Ontario, there are more than 600 stores in which “all products made in Russia” will be withdrawn, as announced by the liquor board of the Canadian province, indicates the NY Times which states that other provinces have done the same.
Finland and Denmark on the same line
The Finns will also have difficulty obtaining Russian alcohol. Alko, the public company that manages the monopoly of the retail sale of alcoholic beverages announced on Monday that it had removed all Russian drinks from its shelves. “Alko, as a responsible operator, will suspend the sale of Russian products in its range in stores and online on Monday February 28the company said in a statement. “The situation in Ukraine is shocking and we have taken it seriously“, justified Anu Koskinen, a spokesperson for the group which offers more than 11,000 products including around thirty Russian, mainly vodka. The measure, however symbolic, should not impact Alko’s sales, of which these products represent only 0.1% of turnover. The S group, also Finnish and which includes many brands, has removed some 50 kinds of Russian products from its displays.
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Not far from there, the Danish group Salling, which notably owns the low-cost brand Netto, indicated that it had “suspended the sale of products from Russia on Saturday. This measure means that Netto in Denmark, Poland and Germany, Føtex and Bilka no longer sell goods made in Russia.. In addition to the decision to withdraw from the shelves these twenty products, which range from vodka to chocolate, via toothpaste, the group is participating in the humanitarian effort, through financial and in-kind donations. “The situation in Ukraine and the cruel images of war concern us all (…) That is why we are doing our part to help people who are currently in this terrible situation”, group communications manager Henrik Vinther Olesen said in a statement. There are more than 500 Netto stores in Denmark and 600 outside the borders of the Nordic country. In France, no store has so far announced a boycott of vodka or Russian products.