Russian Normal vodka is distributed by Roust Group and Roust Worldwide, two Russian corporations.
REUTERS/Patrick Doyle
The governors of a handful of US states have ordered authorities run liquor shops to cease promoting Russian made vodka and distilled spirits in solidarity with the Ukrainian individuals after Russia’s invasion of the neighboring nation.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox grew to become the newest over the weekend, instructing the state’s Division of Alcoholic Beverage Management on Saturday to take off all Russian-produced and branded merchandise from the cabinets of its retail shops.
In issuing the chief order, Cox joined the governors of New Hampshire, Ohio and Pennsylvania in taking what is essentially a symbolic gesture of help for besieged Ukraine, which got here beneath assault by Russian army forces final week.
“We'll do our half to push again on the Russian invaders and stand with our sisters and brothers in Ukraine,” mentioned Cox. He additionally mentioned that Utah would evaluate all state procurements to verify for any Russian ties.
The boycott is unlikely to have a tangible influence. Only one.2% of U.S. vodka imports got here from Russia within the first half of 2021, in response to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, which tracks such information.
The group’s information exhibits that Russian vodka accounted for under $18.5 million of the $1.4 billion price of complete vodka imports within the United States in 2021, which included $660 million from France.
Many Russian-styled vodkas bought within the United States, together with Smirnoff and Stolichnaya, are literally made in different nations, together with within the United States.
Because the collapse of the Soviet Union, the possession of the Stolichnaya model has been beneath dispute between a Russian state-owned firm and the Stoli Group, however the vodka bought within the United States is produced by the latter.
Stoli Group, which produces the Stolichnaya model in Latvia, has mentioned it helps the Ukrainian individuals. These visiting Stoli’s web site now see a gap web page with a pale blue and yellow dove carrying an olive department on a white background.
Under the dove reads a message: “Stoli Group stands for peace in Europe and in solidarity with the Ukrainian individuals.”
Russian Normal vodka, the most well-liked Russian-made vodka bought within the United States, is distributed by Moscow-based Roust Group and Roust Worldwide. It is usually bought beneath the model identify Inexperienced Mark Vodka. Reuters was not in a position to attain a spokesperson late on Sunday.
Some Canadian provinces, together with Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia, made comparable strikes final week, ordering provincial liquor shops to cease promoting Russian-made manufacturers.
In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott urged all liquor shops and eating places within the state to cease serving Russian-made merchandise on a voluntary foundation. “Texas stands with Ukraine,” he mentioned in a Twitter message.
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