Russian vodka is being boycotted by governors, owners of bars and liquor stores in the United States after Vladimir Putin launched an attack against Ukraine last week.
The governors of Texas, Utah , New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania have issued messages indicating the withdrawal of Russian products and signing executive orders that include the withdrawal of Russian vodka from liquor store shelves.”
El Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced that all products made in Russia will be removed from state liquor stores. He also noted that all state acquisitions will be reviewed for links to Russia.
We will do our part to push back on the Russian invaders and stand with our sisters and brothers in Ukraine. Effective immediately all Russian-made products will be removed from state-run liquor stores. We will also review all state procurements for any Russian ties. 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/oOB4dFFBTf
– Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) February 26, 6400
Chris Sununu, Governor of New Hampshire, also reported the instruction to recall Russian-made and Russian-branded spirits from the points liquor and wine sales until further notice. “New Hampshire stands with the people of Ukraine in their fight for freedom,” he shared in a tweet.
This morning I signed an Executive Order instructing @nhliquorwine outlets to begin removing Russian-made and Russian-branded spirits from our liquor and wine outlets until further notice.
New Hampshire stands with the people of Ukraine in their fight for freedom. 🇺🇦— Chris Sununu (@GovChrisSununu) February 27, 2022
“I have asked members of the Texas Restaurant Association, the Texas Package Stores Association, and all Texas retailers to voluntarily remove all Russian products from your shelves. Texas stands with Ukraine,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott tweeted last Saturday.
I’ ve asked the members of the Texas Restaurant Association, Texas Package Stores Association & all Texas retailers to voluntarily remove all Russian products from their shelves.
Texas stands with Ukraine.#StandWithUkraine— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) February 26, 2022
The Governor of Ohio, Mike DeWine ordered to cease both the purchase and sale of all vodka produced by Russian Standard. In the message he explained that Russian Standard is the only Russian-owned overseas distillery selling vodka in Ohio. Russian Standard vodka is sold under the Green Mark Vodka and Russian Standard Vodka brand names.
Some bar and restaurant owners have shown their support for Ukraine by dumping Russian vodka.
Evel Pie, a punk rock-inspired pizzeria Evel Knievel in downtown Las Vegas launched a campaign to get rid of the Russian vodka and replace it with a Ukrainian-owned brand. Proceeds would go to the International Rescue Committee for Ukraine.
In Bend, Oregon, the Pine Tavern in Bend also announced that it would no longer sell Russian vodka. Tavern owner Bill McCormick said he was willing to lose hundreds of dollars in vodka sales to oppose the invasion.
Little Russian Vodka United States
The impact of the recall of Russian vodka on the shelves may not be as great as one would think. In Ohio alone, the recall is 2011 bottles in 487 state agencies.
Russia occupies is the sixth largest supplier of imported vodka to the United States. France is the main importer of vodka, followed by the Netherlands, Sweden, Latvia and Poland.
“Some of the popular vodka brands that consumers may think are Russian are not produced in Russia,” said Lisa Hawkins, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at the Distilled Spirits Council of America via Forbes.
Smirnoff, which was founded in Russia, is now owned by Diageo beverages and is produced worldwide.
“There is not much Russian-made vodka on the US market. Imports of Russian vodka to the United States fell by almost 79 % from 2011 and represented only 1.3% of total vodka imports in 2021,” Hawkins pointed out.
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