About $1.9M worth of American alcohol snapped up in Manitoba after ban temporarily lifted

ManitobaAs Manitoba started a temporary lift on its U.S. booze ban, beginning with private retailers, restaurants, lounges and other businesses, about $1.9 million was snapped up within the first four hours on Monday.Private retailers, restaurants, other businesses get 1st chance to buy booze; public sale starts WednesdaySteve Lambert · The Canadian Press · Posted: Dec 09, 2025 6:59 PM EST | Last Updated: 3 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 2 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.A file photo shows American whiskey. The province began temporary lift on the U.S. booze ban, beginning with private retailers, restaurants, lounges and other businesses on Monday. (Yvette Brend/CBC)The thirst for United States booze in Manitoba appears to be much higher than initially thought.The provincial government pulled American liquor from its store shelves earlier this year, in response to tariffs on Canadian goods imposed by the United States.On Monday, the province started a temporary lift on the cross-border booze ban, beginning with private retailers, restaurants, lounges and other businesses.The general public will be able to buy the products starting Wednesday until Dec. 24 at some liquor outlets.The government was planning to sell about $1 million worth of American liquor, but Premier Wab Kinew says about $1.9 million was snapped up within the first four hours on Monday.It’s not clear how much more will be available for sale, but Kinew estimates the province has about $8 million in total U.S. liquor products.Manitoba’s government pulled U.S. alcohol from its store shelves earlier this year. (Ed White/Reuters)”I think we’re just going to expand the pilot [project], if you will,” Kinew told reporters Tuesday.”Recognizing that within half a day, Manitoba businesses had bought almost double what we had expected … there’s definitely a demand here.”Proceeds for the booze sales — estimated at $500,000 initially — have been earmarked for charities across the province.Manitoba’s ban on American booze only applies to products made in the U.S., not to U.S.-based brands such as Budweiser that are brewed in Canada.Manitoba’s decision to temporarily allow sales followed a similar charity fundraising idea in Nova Scotia, and is aimed partly at selling items that might expire.