The US alcohol boycott across Canada has lasted more than a year, and it may soon be tested. As trade talks between Ottawa and Washington move toward a deal, provinces are being asked to restock American liquor. So Global News asked readers a simple question: will you keep boycotting US alcohol even if it comes back?

Why the US Alcohol Boycott Started

Canadian and US officials are racing against the clock to finalize a trade deal, but one key piece still sits with the provinces: whether US alcohol returns to store shelves. For more than a year, shoppers across the country have grown used to seeing no American alcohol in provincial liquor stores.

These provincial boycotts became a major irritant for President Donald Trump. He called the measures “discriminatory” when he announced fresh tariffs on Canada last month. Those tariffs were delayed until Saturday while both sides continue working toward a deal.

Several premiers have already weighed in publicly. Nova Scotia’s Tim Houston and Manitoba’s Wab Kinew both said Prime Minister Mark Carney has asked provinces to restock American alcohol as Canada finalizes the new trade deal. That deal could help Canada avoid the looming tariffs altogether. Currently, most provinces except Alberta and Saskatchewan still have no US alcohol on their shelves.

However, Carney’s request does not guarantee a rush back to American brands. Houston made that clear on Wednesday evening. “Whether Nova Scotians or Canadians will actually buy it when it gets back on, that’s a whole other discussion,” he said.

What Readers Told Us About the US Alcohol Boycott

Global News put the question directly to readers: “Will you keep up a boycott of American alcohol even if it returns to shelves near you?” The response was overwhelming. Most readers said they would not buy American liquor again, even if it reappears on shelves. Still, a smaller group said their stance could shift over time.

One reader, Darren O, explained his position this way: “I will continue to boycott whatever American products that I can until Trump is gone. After that, it will depend on the political relationship between our countries.” Another reader, Dana S, tied her boycott to broader trade policy. She said it will continue “until the U.S. decides to renegotiate a new CUSMA deal.” CUSMA refers to the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement.

Many readers extended their boycott well beyond alcohol. “Not a chance. No to all things American until they start acting like an ally,” wrote Rich P. Sean W echoed that sentiment, adding, “I won’t visit the U.S. until they return to sanity.”

Political Motivations Behind the Boycott

For some readers, the decision was directly tied to Trump and the Republican Party. Greg P shared a nuanced approach: “When I do start buying US products, it will be from states like California, not the states that support the Republicans.” Similarly, Wally M pointed to Trump’s “demeaning manner” toward Canada as a key driver of his boycott.

Other readers described their decision as permanent, regardless of politics. Terry T said there was “no going back” to US liquor, no matter what trade deal emerges: “I will never buy US booze whether on the shelves or not.” Janine O agreed, stating plainly, “I will definitely not be buying US alcohol again.” Mitzi B added, “I’m not likely to ever buy another US product ever.”

Buying Canadian Over Punishing America

Not every reader framed their choice as punishment. Diana G said she and her husband will avoid US alcohol going forward, but for a different reason. “Our primary reason, however, is not to punish the United States but to support our own producers here in Canada,” she explained.

That “Buy Canadian” sentiment came up again and again. Bruno G said he will focus on supporting local and Canadian businesses instead. Meanwhile, some readers said they would look to other countries first. Victor L noted, “I try to buy Canadian if available. If not, I look for non-US alternatives.”

Cost, though, remains a real factor for some households. William F said he would try to avoid American products “provided that there are economically competitive substitute products from local or non-US international sources.” Not everyone agreed with the boycott’s approach. Debbie B argued it “punished the U.S. businesses who were not the villains – from distilleries to distribution, but did nothing to deter Trump.”

What the Data Says About the US Alcohol Boycott

Reader comments line up closely with broader survey data. According to Abacus Data, nearly seven in ten Canadians, 69 per cent, in British Columbia, Ontario, Manitoba, and the four Atlantic provinces want their governments to keep the restrictions in place. Only 19 per cent want American products back on shelves, while 11 per cent remain unsure. That survey polled 1,363 adults.

The economic impact has already been significant. From 2024 to 2026, US wine exports to Canada dropped 78 per cent, a loss of US$357 million for the American wine industry, according to the Wine Institute. Within a month of the initial ban in 2025, US spirits sales in Canada fell by more than 66 per cent, based on figures from the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.

The Bottom Line

Even if premiers put American alcohol back on the shelves, most readers say their habits will not change overnight. Trust, once lost, tends to linger. As Houston put it, restocking shelves and winning back customers are simply “a whole other discussion.”

For now, the numbers and the reader responses both point in the same direction. Canadians appear ready to keep choosing homegrown bottles over imported ones, at least for the foreseeable future.