Canadians aren't ready to forgive and forget
A new poll from Nanos Research suggests the cross-border alcohol boycott that swept Canada isn't going away anytime soon — even if American wine, beer, and spirits make a full comeback on store shelves.
According to the survey, 69 per cent of Canadians said they would continue to avoid buying American alcohol even if it becomes fully available again in Canadian retailers. That's a striking number, and it points to something bigger than a temporary shopping habit: for a large majority of Canadians, this has become a matter of principle rather than convenience.
How we got here
The boycott took hold after provincial liquor boards, including Ontario's LCBO, pulled American products from shelves in response to escalating trade tensions with the United States. Bottles of bourbon, California wine, and Kentucky whiskey that were once staples of Canadian liquor store aisles disappeared almost overnight, replaced by prominent "Made in Canada" displays and buy-local campaigns.
What started as a policy decision by provincial retailers quickly turned into a grassroots movement. Shoppers began scrutinizing labels, swapping American brands for Canadian, European, or other international alternatives, and many say they've simply gotten used to it.
A shift that may outlast the trigger
What makes the Nanos findings notable is the timeline. This isn't a snapshot of anger in the heat of a trade spat — it's a signal that a majority of Canadians have made a lasting decision. Even in a hypothetical scenario where American alcohol brands return fully stocked and readily available, most respondents say they'd still choose to walk past them.
That kind of sustained consumer sentiment matters for an industry that relies heavily on the Canadian market. The U.S. alcohol sector has long counted on Canada as one of its largest export destinations, and a boycott that hardens into habit — rather than fading once headlines move on — could have lasting effects on sales north of the border.
What it means for shoppers here
For Ottawa residents, the shift has already reshaped a trip to the LCBO. Local shelves have leaned harder into Canadian distilleries, Ontario wineries, and craft beer from breweries across the province, giving shoppers who want to buy local plenty of new options to explore. Whether that becomes a permanent fixture of how Ottawa drinks — or eventually reverts once trade tensions cool — may now come down to habit as much as politics.
The Nanos poll suggests that, for now, the habit is winning. Whether that holds if American brands mount a marketing push to win Canadians back remains to be seen, but the early numbers suggest Canadian shoppers are in no rush to change their minds.
Source: CBC News / Nanos Research
