Quebec Orders SAQ To Remove All Russian Alcohol Products In Solidarity With Ukraine

The SAQ said they will and have already removed Russian alcohol from their shelves.

SAQ logo sign on the outside of a Montreal store.

SAQ logo sign on the outside of a Montreal store.

Jerome Cid | Dreamstime
Assistant Editor

Quebec has become the latest province in Canada to ban the sale of Russian alcohol amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Minister of Finance Eric Girard said in a tweet on February 25 that he had requested that the Société des alcools du Québec remove all Russian products.

"In solidarity with the Ukrainian people, I have asked the SAQ to withdraw all products from Russia," Girard said.

The SAQ did not hesitate when it came to the request, and have stated they will and have already removed Russian alcohol from their shelves.

"At the request of the Quebec government, we will withdraw as soon as possible the ten or so products from Russia currently available in our stores," the SAQ tweeted on February 25.

The SAQ is not the only Canadian alcohol distributor to pull Russian products from shelves in solidarity with Ukraine. The Liquor Control Board of Ontario also issued a statement saying they, too, would immediately be removing all Russian alcohol from their stores.

"Following government directive, effective immediately, all products produced in Russia will be removed from LCBO sales channels, including 679 LCBO stores across the province, lcbo.com and LCBO Convenience Outlets," the LCBO said.

Canada has made its stance regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine clear. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned Russia's attack on Ukraine, saying that "these unprovoked actions are a clear further violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity," and that they "will be met with severe consequences."

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  • Mike Chaar
  • Mike Chaar

    Assistant Editor

    Mike Chaar was an assistant editor & writer for MTL Blog. You might recognize him from bylines in Men's Health, FanSided, Contiki, and ScreenRant, to name a few. Mike's work has also appeared on the 'Real Housewives' and 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' When Mike isn't typing away, you can find him at his fave sushi spot, listening to one of Mariah Carey's 19 number-one hits or creating content.

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