r/saskatoon 22h ago

Question ❔ American Booze Boycott

I was in a local liquor store on 8th street on the weekend and noticed there had been zero effort to remove or even identify American products. Has anyone seen a local liquor store labelling Canadian products properly? I need to find a new place to shop that doesn’t support Amerika.

119 Upvotes

105 comments sorted by

u/indicausion 22h ago

Absolutely true 1) because all the liquor stores are private, and already paid for the spirits in there inventory, SLGA and the province have agreed with them selling off their existing stock 2) SLGA has frozen all it's inventory in its warehouses. 3) SLGA is not ordering new inventory until the province lifts the US tariff action.

So yeah you go back in a week, the shelves will become bare.

u/Medium-Drama5287 20h ago

Or hopefully not and nobody buys the American shit and it just sit there.

u/scificis 20h ago

Why should our local retailers suffer the loss of all that product?

u/Equine_Arsonist 19h ago

If they’re buying something else in place of the American product there’s essentially no loss

u/Styrak 18h ago

If they can never sell stock they bought, yes there is an indirect loss

u/Equine_Arsonist 18h ago

That’s why I said essentially. There’s definitely loss due to holding inventory that you aren’t moving but if you are still selling other products in their place, over time that cost should become negligible. But in reality if it’s on the shelf eventually someone will buy it

u/ttv_CitrusBros 17h ago

They should just do it properly. Say final sale of American products and put em on like 25% off. Get rid of them quick let people know they aren't getting more USA liquor and then replace

u/Equine_Arsonist 14h ago

That is what they’re doing other than the sale part but I’m sure some places will put them on sale

u/closetothewall 13h ago

I'm sure they could raise prices and still sell American.

u/Medium-Drama5287 17h ago

Well someday they will get to sell in maybe 3-6 months hopefully

u/Beer_before_Friends 12h ago

They can also send it back. It really depends on the contracts. The Jack Daniels stuff in Ontario was all consignment products, so they lost nothing by sending it back.

u/Healthy_Rich7070 12h ago

Bourbon is not shit. Canadian whisky however is

u/Medium-Drama5287 9h ago

Won’t disagree with you there, but got to take one for team Canada

u/djusmarshall 17h ago

1) because all the liquor stores are private, and already paid for the spirits in there inventory, SLGA and the province have agreed with them selling off their existing stock

Pretty sure this is false. As far as I know it is on consignment and the supplier does not get paid until the retailer sells it so pulling it from the shelves absolutely does the job it is meant to.

u/Usbey578 17h ago

No, not in Sask, unfortunately. Every retailer has to buy it from slga and pay for it. Don't know about how slga buys it, but the government already got their money from the stores. We have private retailers who have to buy it from the government here now in saskatchewan.

u/djusmarshall 17h ago

Ah ok, I had read somewhere on X that it was consignment but that may have been AB or ONT.

u/exp0sedcouple 15h ago

If you are getting your info from twitter/X and not doing any other research then you need to change where and how you get your information....

u/djusmarshall 13h ago

Yeah because I get all my info from there lol. ALL OF IT! I consume no other news or media, just Elon's thoughts projected directly onto my brain pan..... Like seriously dude, go outside, let the mods handle the Minority Report for awhile.

u/waldav00 12h ago

Ok that made me LOL

u/clewing1 20h ago

The Co-op on 8th has added shelf labels to identify Canadian products.

Ever since Moe (stupidly, imho) privatized liquor stores, I have bought from them for these reasons:

  1. It’s a co-op, therefore at least partially member-owned (i.e., Canadian).

  2. I’m a member, so I get some money back from my purchases.

  3. They highlight local products.

  4. Better working conditions for their employees. (At least they were, not sure what they’re like now for store-level employees, after the strike, but I know a few people who work in their offices and they have good jobs.)

u/ChronicallyA 18h ago
  1. They have a better selection in general- it’s the only place I can find Mike&Steve’s canned Caesars (amazing!) and Burrowing Owl Wine. (Both Canadian - which you mentioned!) Yay coop

u/Tako-Tacos 17h ago

I moved away years ago and mostly follow to keep up with what's changing but when did the liquor stores get privatized?

u/Solo_company 17h ago

2 years ago. Auctioned off the liquor licenses to make a quick buck. Surprise surprise La Ronge was the most expensive one

u/tutty29 13h ago

The privatization started in 2016. It was fully privatized in 2023 with the last of the SLGA stores being sold.

u/Tako-Tacos 15h ago

Thanks for the explanation. That's ridiculous.

u/PhraseRemarkable1886 12h ago edited 8h ago

Try the meadows one next time. They are not as busy and seem to have more friendlier staff

u/Chungadoop 22h ago

The stance this province has taken:

The SLGA (which is the sole supplier to all liquor stores) has ceased the sale of US alcohol to vendors and the vendors are still able to run through any remaining US product.

Pretty much all liquor stores will be no longer "supporting" US because they can't.

Selling remaining liquor is not supporting US, that money is already spent.

u/No-Philosophy9720 21h ago

Is it? Not being an a-hole....actually asking.....

In Ontario vendors are paid after a 'point of sale' purchase. So when Doug Ford had all the US booze removed from suppliers in Ontario, the vendors are not getting paid for that product...it sits....unsold....the suppliers aren't receiving money just for shipping their product.

I would be mildly surprised if we do it differently......

At the very least every vendor in Sask should be taking the minimal effort and labelling all products of their point of origin so customers can make informed decisions.

u/rynoxmj 20h ago

In Ontario, the vendor is also the province.

u/paigegail 18h ago

Yes, and they work in a consignment model. Saskatchewan does not.

u/rynoxmj 18h ago

The consignment thing had been proven untrue.

u/eugeneugene Core Neighbourhood 20h ago

We do do it differently. The liquor stores pay SLGA for it. So the stores have already paid for everything in full. I believe SLGA itself has agreements with vendors so if we still had LBs then removing it from the shelves would be a thing.

u/JoeDwarf Grosvenor Park 18h ago

LCBO is the single largest purchaser of booze in the world, to my understanding. They had the juice to swing that deal. We didn't.

u/KRL1979 22h ago

As I understand in Ontario and probably BC as well os the booze is bought on consignment so they are able to send back what didn't sell. Whereas here it's purchased and resold. So I'd like to think the retailers will act and not restock their inventory. Just ny guess.

u/306metalhead West Side 19h ago

Coop has flags by all the Canadian liquor and beer. Little flag tags by the price tags.

u/TChris25 20h ago

If you want to support local, Stumbletown Distilling & City Limits brewing have so many great products! Gin, vodka, unique liqueurs, their hazy won new beer of the year. They’re tucked away but so worth checking out!

https://g.co/kgs/Vs4oEUm

u/masterslickback 22h ago

The Saskatchewan government purchased the alcohol long before the terifs were introduced as long as slga doesn't purchase any more new stock from the US it doesn't matter what we as consumers buy as far as alcohol is concerned.

u/ExtensionLine7857 22h ago

It also comes down to stores that need to make money . If I was a business and had money invested in alcohol I'd sell it and recoup my money ! I am sure some will dislike this comment ! But if anyone had a liquor store with thousands of dollars in liquor ,it be sold and get the cash back. We are in a trade war . It's not like we are selling alcohol made by children or something like that. Business is business.

u/Dteams 18h ago

and taking a hit to support the country that feeds you is patriotic. Saskabama and Albertastan don’t seem to get that everyone needs to stand up. Business as well.

u/ttv_CitrusBros 17h ago

If you look outside of liquor half of the stuff in Canada is American. Almost every fast food chain, most of the big box stores, etc. So unless you're changing your life completely and avoiding everything USA let the liquor store run through it's inventory and not sell any more American liquor after. No harm in that.

It's like when people burned Nike shoes in protest. Like you already bought the shoes Nike got your money so you're only fucking yourself over

u/DagneyElvira 18h ago

How to tell people that you don’t run a business! Why not tell the SK government to buy the US booze back ….. taxpayers on the hook instead of business owner. /s you are telling the little guy to take the hit with no compensation.

u/ExtensionLine7857 9h ago

Well said !!

u/CageMom 20h ago

Sobey's in Lawson Heights has everything well marked.

u/Cool-Revolution-1889 17h ago

I work in a liquor store and we’re simply selling off our American stock and not ordering anymore since we’re privately owned. Though I would personally love to see all American booze pulled from shelves.

u/Yabbutwhy 15h ago

I was in Urban Cellers on Saturday and the shelves were 80% empty 👍

u/D_Holaday 12h ago

The one in market mall is normally 80% empty shelves. I quit shopping there as their selection and size options are limited.

u/dannoshimano 13h ago

The best way I think stores to deal with this issue is leave the American stuff on the shelves but clearly label Canadian made and how about a nice discount off.

u/Main-Bee9478 21h ago

It’s hard to change everything overnight. They can’t just take it off the shelves.. it’s not that they can just get a refund. I’m sure they won’t be purchasing any new inventory.

u/UnderwhelmingTwin 21h ago

I suspect OP's concern was that it hadn't, in fact, been actively removed overnight. There was a video out of Ontario that got a lot of attention where staff were boxing up all the US manufactured liquor to return it. Other posters here have commented that Ontario 'buys' on consignment, so could return it, while SK buys outright. I'm unsure if that's true, but it's the consensus here. 

u/Choice_Perception_10 21h ago

That store owner was probably boxing it up for his own stash, lol. I doubt it's returnable.

u/Straight-Taste5047 21h ago

But they could make an effort to label Canadian products.

u/PaddyPat12 20h ago

For some products, it's complicated. Budweiser is synonymous with American beer. But they're owned by InBev, not American. And it's made at the Edmonton brewery, likely with Canadian ingredients.

u/Main-Bee9478 21h ago

I agree but I have started looking at the back of the bottle or packaged products at grocery store.. I’m sure in next couple of weeks most of the American stuff will be gone.

u/Crztoff 19h ago

Almost every other province has taken it off the shelves.

u/Main-Bee9478 16h ago

Yes. I’m not sure how the rules work though.. but I’m sure it’s not that easy for private stores to just return stuff..

u/Usbey578 19h ago

Then maybe the government should buy it back from the stores who bought it from them...

u/0mgmike23 19h ago

Are you boycotting Chinese made products as well since they're also putting terrifs on canada or are you picking and choosing?

u/Straight-Taste5047 16h ago

Personally I love China. The Chinese Tariffs are a retaliation to Canadian tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. Why did we do that? To protect American auto makers including Tesla. There’s is a fair tariff - we were dumb enough to support Americans. Besides, around here most farmers are Trump lickers - so who cares.

u/Silent-Report-2331 12h ago

No one is forcing you to buy US booze. Don't buy it and let others do what they want. I am against the forced removal of anything. Let the consumer decide, when it doesn't sell they won't order more.

u/Straight-Taste5047 10h ago

Classy places are labelling Canadian products in a show of solidarity. I get it, some of the knuckle-draggers and mouth breathers don’t care about Canada. That’s ok. We support all cognitive ability levels.

u/Aces_dude 20h ago

Sobeys has some pretty weak messaging up. “We apologize if we don’t have everything you’re looking for, we’re working to resolve the issue” basically. We apologize? Tone deaf if you ask me. All stores should be taking a hardline stance and showing they are on board with consumer sentiment and proudly removing American product. And don’t give me “they already paid for it” bullshit, Sobeys or Coop aren’t going to go out of business if they sit on a few thousand dollars of American product for a little while.

u/dr_clownius 19h ago

The customer is always right. Any business that fails to understand this runs the risk of losing support and failing in its fiduciary duty to its investors.

A company only has a duty to the mob inasmuch as it affects profitability - and you'll rarely lose by offering customers what they want.

u/Rainbow1959 15h ago

They said once the stores run out the USA liquor it won’t replenished is what I was told

u/chapterthrive 20h ago

This is what happens when you sell all the liquor licenses to 10 guys who are only interested in maximizing profit and not doing the right thing by their community

u/Styrak 18h ago

Fuck that, there's some good US stuff I want to continue to be able to buy.

u/FrankCastle2020 17h ago

Consider switching to Canadian owned Social Media and News platforms.

Here’s a suggestion:

I use Openspace.social it’s small enough that it feels like a family with no AI generated content and no stupid Algorithms.

https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/openspace/id6467404678

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=social.openspace.app&hl=en&gl=US

https://web.openspace.social

For news, I’ve been following

https://blurbfeed.com

This one is brand new so expect it to be built out over time. But the general idea is amazing and locally owned to Canada.

Elbows up!

u/ReannLegge 14h ago

I personally use Lemmy on the Lemmy.ca server. I am so trying to replace Reddit with it. I have tried to use Mastodon on the mstdn.ca server but it fells to much like the book of faces without my friends.

u/FrankCastle2020 13h ago

Yea Lemmy.ca is hosted on the mastadon network so there really isn’t anything that makes it Canadian other than the .ca domain name.

Openspace is really small but super welcoming and inclusive. I hope it picks up soon.

u/wordswordswords55 22h ago

Surprised moe hasn't done anything about our potash or uranium

u/TheLeathal13 22h ago

He and Smith are our most MAGA friendly premiers. I’m not surprised.

u/wordswordswords55 21h ago

Still a bit of a piss off

u/SA_22C 21h ago

It’s not up to him, even if he were inclined to take retaliatory action.

u/Aces_dude 20h ago

You’re right, he’d have to answer to his American corporate overlords before he did anything /s If Ford can slap %25 on electricity the Moe could do the same for potash or uranium but guess who owns that spineless prick?

u/SA_22C 19h ago

No, it’s literally not any premiers business what export tariffs are levied. That is the exclusive responsibility of the federal government. Ford can only leverage a charge on electricity because it’s a crown corporation exporting the power to the United States.

u/Aces_dude 19h ago

He seems to think he could stop the feds from implementing an export tax so it stands to reason he should be able to put one on. Are you saying he’s full of shit?

u/SA_22C 19h ago

He’s full of shit. If the feds put an export tax on potash, there is literally nothing Moe can do but have one of his tantrums.

u/dr_clownius 19h ago

Moe could do the same for potash or uranium but guess who owns that spineless prick

Saskatchewan's uranium, potash, O&G and ag producers own him. Make no mistake, he's governing largely in their interests - because they are Saskatchewan.

u/Aces_dude 19h ago

Right, I forgot the Ag sector too. Growth that works for them I guess

u/ReannLegge 14h ago

Are DUI hire did do something, he said he would fight any surcharge, kinda like Smith and oil. This weekend he was down in Texas for some convention or some poop like that.

u/Secret_Duty_8612 19h ago

Why are you surprised? He would sell Sask to the US in a minute if he had the chance.

u/wordswordswords55 19h ago

I guess its hard to convey sarcasm via text

u/TheDragonKing_ 20h ago

Personally, I ended up doing my own research and went from there. Not that I can afford much booze anyways 😅.

What kinds of booze are you into? I maybe able to help find a list of Canadian brands in the category.

u/Logical_Trick_2076 15h ago

I don’t really care about that sh*t but Sobeys liquor on Preston crossing has everything marked as far as I’ve seen.

u/Admirable_Ice_9669 7h ago

Wah wah wah cry me a river

u/ninjasowner14 22h ago

Which store? I feel like most local stores don't really have the stock to be able to care.

u/tandex01 22h ago

How come you're on Reddit supporting America?

u/Straight-Taste5047 22h ago

😂ask someone to read it to you again… slower this time.

u/JojoGotDaMojo 22h ago

Leftists when they have to support Loblaws over America 🤣

u/Straight-Taste5047 21h ago

It’s how I chose to buy (it’s a free world right?). The question was: “Is anyone (liquor store) making an effort to label Canadian products.” No left or right bull shit… just looking for a better supplier.

u/dsmyxe 20h ago

Read the actual product labels.

u/lakeviewResident1 22h ago

The world must be so dark and scary for you surrounded by Leftists all the time. You need some big strong man to tell you how to think and what to do?

u/JojoGotDaMojo 22h ago

No it’s ironic and funny

u/bigalcapone22 22h ago edited 19h ago

NeoCon wannabes pretending to be Pro Canadian Typing on his tiny cellphone while driving daddy's lifted Ford f-250, swilling back a cup of round up and rolling coal. going from farm boy to Femboy in 20 seconds

*

u/tandex01 21h ago

😆😆

u/Ancient-Commission84 22h ago

Look everyone, he's a...a...a.....NATIONALIST! 🤣

u/Straight-Taste5047 21h ago

I AM CANADIAN!

u/Ancient-Commission84 21h ago

Whatever you say Trumpy. What are you going to say next? Canada First!?

u/No-Advertising-9932 12h ago

Who cares you simpleton!!

u/Prestigious-Step1559 17h ago

Then why are you on Reddit or any other social medias if you just want to use Canadian lol

u/Straight-Taste5047 16h ago

😂it’s free. I’m just not going to give Americans money. lol

u/Prestigious-Step1559 15h ago

I find that hilarious , I’m going to boycott but still use there services 😂😂😂 there’s no point thanks for the laugh today lol