ManitobaCustomers flocked to some Manitoba Liquor Marts, with some lining up even before stores opened Wednesday, to buy the first bottles of American alcohol sold at the provincial retailer in months amid an ongoing trade war.U.S. alcohol temporarily returns to shelves at some stores, with portion of proceeds going to charityListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.Dozens line up outside the Madison Square Liquor Mart, one of seven provincially run liquor stores in Winnipeg that will sell U.S.-made alcohol until Dec. 24. (Cameron MacIntosh/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. Bottles of Jack Daniel’s whisky were among a number of U.S.-made alcohol products that returned to the shelves at some Manitoba Liquor Marts on Wednesday. (Rudy Gauer/CBC)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 to charityProceeds 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.”Manitoba is following the steps of Nova Scotia, which also began temporarily selling its warehoused American alcohol ahead of the holidays with revenue going to charity. (Rudy Gauer/CBC)Carol Ryrei lined up to buy American alcohol on Wednesday for a similar reason. “The proceeds are going to charity.… There was absolutely no way we would be putting a cent into the American economy otherwise,” she said. “I would be willing to go without it for the next 10 years.” Manitoba is following the steps of Nova Scotia, which also began temporarily selling its remaining $14-million inventory of U.S. booze last week, with net profits of about $4 million going to Feed Nova Scotia and other community groups.Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries initially said up to $500,000 from the alcohol sales would be donated to charities.But Glen Simard, the minister responsible for Liquor & Lotteries, said Premier Kinew has mentioned the cap on donations could be expanded. “We’re really excited of the fact that … we set a goal and we’ve met it,” he said. “Now it’s up to us to re-evaluate that goal and consider options going forward.” As for the restrictions, Simard reiterated that the province is not buying more American alcohol until the U.S. changes its tune on tariffs.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. WATCH | Lineups at Liquor Marts as U.S. booze temporarily returns:Lineups at Liquor Marts as U.S. booze temporarily returnsManitobans lined up at some Liquor Marts Wednesday morning for their chance to snag American alcohol. It’s been off store shelves for months amid the ongoing trade war with the U.S., but is back in limited quantities for a short time at select stores, with some of the proceeds going to local charities.ABOUT THE AUTHORSantiago Arias Orozco is a journalist with CBC Manitoba currently based in Winnipeg. He previously worked for CBC Toronto and the Toronto Star. You can reach him at santiago.arias.orozco@cbc.ca.With files from The Canadian Press and Matt Humphrey
Customers line up at Manitoba Liquor Marts for 1st chance to buy American booze in months
