booze

Nova Scotians seem to have mixed feelings about whether they will buy American alcohol if it is put back on store shelves.

Amid recent intense trade talks with the U.S., Prime Minister Mark Carney has asked all the premiers to restock American liquor in good faith, once a deal is finalized.

The products were taken off more than a year ago after Trump implemented tariffs. But now that it looks like they could be available again soon, not everyone is keen to purchase them.

Outside the NSLC in Yarmouth, about half of those Acadia News spoke to, won’t be buying alcohol from our neighbours to the south.

“Nope, probably not,” said one customer. “Why buy it? I can stick to what’s local, Canadian.”

Another said, “Never. [But] if we got rid of who we have over there, I sure would.”

However, others were open to more options.

“I love bourbon. I wouldn’t probably by the bourbon,” said one man. “But I don’t mind that it’s not there now.”

One was even a little indifferent.

“It honestly doesn’t make a difference to me,” said another customer.

Meantime, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has his own message for Canadians.

“If we put the booze back on the shelves, don’t buy it, let it sit on the shelf where the liquor mart employees will be putting it and buy the Canadian stuff instead,” said Kinew.

Meetings on a trade deal continue between our two countries.