Quebecers might not see American liquor on the shelves for quite some time. The Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) will be pulling all U.S.-made alcohol from its stores this week in response to the 25% tariffs recently imposed by Donald Trump’s administration.
Quebec is following Ontario’s lead in banning American alcohol, a move Finance Minister Eric Girard says is meant to protect Quebec’s economy, local businesses, and consumers. Girard also hinted that more measures will follow.
“In reaction to the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, we have asked [the SAQ] to remove American products from its shelves. More actions will follow. We will protect our economy, businesses, and citizens,” the minister wrote in an X post that was later reposted by Quebec Premier François Legault.
Legault confirmed that as of Tuesday, February 4, no American-made alcohol will be sold at SAQ locations or supplied to grocery stores, bars, agencies, or restaurants across the province. While the ban will take effect immediately, it may take a few days before all products disappear completely.
The SAQ is already equipped with a wide selection of alternatives for common imported bottles, including Canadian wines and Quebec-made spirits from brands like Distillerie du Square, 3 Lacs, BluePearl, Les Subversifs, Cherry River, Cirka, Menaud, and Noroi.
Popular American alcohol brands that will disappear from SAQ shelves include California wines, Jack Daniel’s, Jim Beam, Southern Comfort, Tito’s, The Kraken, Sailor Jerry, Smirnoff, Sour Puss, and White Claw.
For now, the SAQ has yet to confirm how it will handle existing stock or the financial impact of the decision.
The lifting of foreign liquor comes a few days after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada would join Mexico in imposing retaliatory tariffs on $155 billion worth of goods, including alcohol.
With a trade war now in effect, Trump and Trudeau are expected to speak to each other on Monday morning, as per The Hill.
“I don’t expect anything very dramatic. We put tariffs on. They owe us a lot of money, and I’m sure they’re going to pay,” the President said when asked about the meeting.
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