That didn’t take long.
Following a strongly worded message from Gov. Tom Wolf urging it to do so, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) on Sunday ordered Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores to remove all Russian-made booze from shelves, in a show of support for the people of Ukraine.
The move follows Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has devastated the former Soviet republic, leaving hundreds dead and well over a thousand wounded.
“As of today, these products will no longer be sold or procured by the PLCB,” board chairman Tim Holden said. “Given the evolving political economic climate, it’s just the right thing to do.”
On Sunday, Wolf urged the PLCB to remove Russian-sourced products such as vodka from Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores in the commonwealth and stop selling them as quickly as possible.
“I have joined with leaders across the nation and across the world in condemning these attacks and expressing support for the people of Ukraine,” Wolf said.
“I appreciate the board’s efforts to quickly identify Russian-sourced products currently being sold at Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores,” he said. “I urge the board to take these further actions as a show of solidarity and support for the people of Ukraine and an expression of our collective revulsion with the unprovoked actions of the Russian state.”
Related:
• A copy of the governor’s letter to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.
• Liquor privatization in Washington state could provide lessons for Pennsylvanians
It’s hard to say to what extent a boycott will damage Russia’s vodka industry, let alone its economy.
PLCB spokesperson Shawn Kelly told the Philadelphia Inquirer that Russian products amount to less than $1.1 million (about 0.06%) out of more than $1.7 billion in total PLCB spirit sales over the past 52 weeks.
Nevertheless, state Sen. Jim Brewster, chairman of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, which oversees the commonwealth’s liquor stores, said he agrees with Wolf’s call for the PLCB to stop selling Russian-sourced products.
“As the world reacts with disgust and sorrow to the unprovoked and unjustified Russian invasion, this is one small way that Pennsylvania can show support for the people of Ukraine,” he said.
