Customers line up at Manitoba Liquor Marts for 1st chance to buy American booze in months
CBC
Customers flocked to Manitoba Liquor Marts Wednesday, with some lining up even before stores opened, to buy the first bottles of American alcohol sold at the provincial retailer in months, after the products were warehoused amid the trade war with the United States.
Dozens waited outside the Madison Square Liquor Mart near Polo Park shopping centre, one of seven stores in Winnipeg where U.S.-made alcohol products were back on the shelves Wednesday. They'll be available until Dec. 24.
Five other stores, in Brandon, Dauphin, Thompson, Steinbach and Portage la Prairie, will also sell American liquor ahead of Christmas, the province previously said.
All locations selling the U.S.-made alcohol reported long lineups at opening time and heavy traffic continued into the afternoon, a spokesperson for Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries told CBC News.
The first round of inventory of some popular American brands at some Liquor Marts sold out on Wednesday.
The Crown corporation said bourbons, California wines, flavoured vodkas and liqueurs were among the top sellers. But figures on sales and proceeds won't be available until the new year.
Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries said the selected locations will continue refilling the shelves with U.S.-made products until Dec. 24 or until all the inventory runs out.
The province yanked millions of dollars worth of U.S.-made alcohol earlier this year in retaliation for U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to levy tariffs on Canadian goods that aren't compliant with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement.
Manitoba began to temporarily lift the ban on Monday, beginning with sales to private retailers, restaurants, lounges and other businesses.
The government planned to sell about $1 million worth of American liquor, but Premier Wab Kinew said about $1.9 million was snapped up within the first four hours.
Proceeds from the sales will go to charities, including the Winnipeg Cheer Board, Brandon Cheer Board and organizations in Thompson, Kinew has said.
John Creelman spent more than $1,500 at the Madison Square Liquor Mart Wednesday on alcohol for his family and three others.
While he wanted to restock on U.S. products ahead of the holidays, including California wine, Creelman said he was motivated to buy them because revenue is going to charities.
"That was a big instigator," he said. "Any time they can do better to support charities and local food banks … it's a great way to bring Manitobans together."
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