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What some Canadian provinces are doing with U.S. alcohol removed from liquor stores
Across Canada, there are millions of dollars worth of U.S.-made alcoholic products gathering dust in warehouses, all of it pulled from liquor store shelves in most provinces in retaliation for sweeping U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports.
If the idea of some of those products finding their way back to market leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, let the knowledge that several provinces are doing so to benefit local charities be the chaser.
Here’s the latest on what Canadian provinces are doing with their U.S. booze stockpiles.
Nova Scotia
Atlantic Canada’s most populous province was the first to start selling off some of its estimated $14 million in remaining U.S. products, mostly wine and spirits such as whiskey, to benefit charity.
The provincial government estimates the current sale will generate $4 million in profits that will be donated to Feed Nova Scotia and other food banks.
Once the existing stock is depleted, the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation won’t order more.
“We remain committed to a Team Canada approach to tariffs and trade. We will not be ordering any more from the United States once this inventory is gone,” Premier Tim Houston said in a news release.
Manitoba
This Prairie province soon followed suit, announcing the sale of “some U.S. wine and spirits at select Liquor Marts” as of this Wednesday and until Dec. 24 or until sold out.
Up to $500,000 of the proceeds will be donated to Cheer Boards in Winnipeg, Thompson and Brandon, community charities that provide holiday help to families in need.
On the first day of sales, the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation told CTV News some stores had long lineups before opening and lots of foot traffic.
“Some locations have already sold through their first round of inventory of the most popular brands,” an MBLL spokesperson told the outlet.
And like N.S., Manitoba’s stock will not be replenished once sold out.
Newfoundland and Labrador
The new Progressive Conservative government and the province’s liquor corporation (NLC) started selling its $3.2 million in U.S.-made products this week, with a promise to donate the net profits to the Community Food Sharing Association, a St. John’s-based food distribution hub for the province’s food banks.
Along with an immediate donation of $500,000 already provided at a crucial time of year for food banks, the NLC anticipates the total donation amount to reach up to $1 million by the time products are sold.
“Many of the products are spirits and wine, so there is no risk of expiry anytime soon,” an NLC spokesperson told National Post in an email. “However, there are a small number of products that have shorter shelf life, like beer and (ready-to-drink beverages).”
Some liquers, they added, also have shorter shelf lives than most products.
Ontario
The province is sitting approximately $80 million in products from the U.S. — by far the largest Canadian cache — some $2 million of which is set to expire in 2026, according to CP24 .
The province’s Liberals are calling on Premier Doug Ford to follow the example set by Houston.
“We all agreed, when we pulled American liquor off the shelves, it was the right thing to do. We sent a message. It felt good,” Liberal legislative leader John Fraser said during Question Period at Queen’s Park on Wednesday .
“What would be even better is to do some good at home with that action, not just let this liquor collect dust in a warehouse.”
Ford later told reporters he’d bring it up with the LCBO.
“U.S. alcohol will remain off shelves and is being held in storage until further notice. We are currently exploring options for the products,” a spokesperson for Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy told the Toronto Star.
Prince Edward Island
In Canada’s smallest province, the government and the liquor control commission also resumed sales of U.S. products effective Thursday.
Officials expect the sales to generate $600,000 in net profits, all of which will be donated to island food banks.
It, too, won’t re-order any American alcohol.
New Brunswick
Neighbouring New Brunswick pulled its stock from provincial liquor store shelves in March, but the provincial authority told National Post in August that the products remained available for purchase by “grocery, agent, and licensee” because it needed warehouse space for new Canadian inventory. Once sold, it was not being restocked.
“This solution allows access to American products for those who want them and will help us minimize waste and recover investments we have made in U.S. products,” New Brunswick Liquor (ANBL) wrote.
In October, the province started selling off its remaining $3.4 million in American products at its warehouse location in Salisbury, just west of Moncton. In early December, the minister responsible for ANBL said only $2 million of that remained.
As for donations, a spokesperson for the agency told National Post in an email that while it donates to “Feed NB and a network of food banks, community gardens, and libraries through fundraising efforts and internal programs,” the profits from liquor sales are returned to the province.
National Post has asked the province directly about its charitable intentions, if any.
British Columbia
Officials in B.C. took the same approach as New Brunswick in March , halting imports and pulling existing products from store shelves while maintaining their wholesale availability.
National Post has contacted the province and its liquor agency to inquire about existing stock and whether they, too, have plans to return products to shelves in aid of local charities.
Quebec
The province’s liquor authority also pulled its stock, halted orders and later donated $300,000 worth of expiring U.S.-made alcohol to foundations, charity events and hospitality training schools.
“The products currently concerned include mainly rosé wines, boxed wines, ready-to-drink beverages, creams, certain beers, and liqueurs that are not intended for long-term storage,” the SAQ said at the time.
The SAQ told National Post on Thursday that the program is still underway and “there are no other plans at this time.”
The province had roughly $27 million in products stored, according to CBC .
Northern Canada
A spokesperson for the Yukon Liquor Commission told National Post via email that it also stopped importing U.S. products in March and pulled them from shelves at its six stores, but they can still be purchased by licensees until existing stocks are sold. They did not say how much remained.
“We are reviewing the current position and considering options for changes in the new year,” they wrote.
When contacted in August, Nunavut’s department of finance told National Post via email that the sale of about $600,000 worth of existing U.S.-made inventory resumed on July 3 and, once gone, would not return until next year.
Such products are only resupplied during the territory’s short summer shipping season, and the already-completed 2025-26 order “did not include any U.S.-made product.”
The Northwest Territories also stopped importing new products in March, but permitted the sale of existing stock. National Post has reached out to the authority for an update on the stock quantity.
Alberta and Saskatchewan
When others were pulling products from the shelves, these Prairie provinces continued to permit the sale of existing stock and temporarily stopped importing new products. Alberta first, followed by Saskatchewan, later lifted their respective purchasing moratorium, making U.S. products readily available to customers.
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