The NSLC reported that approximately one month ago, it had only $1.5 million worth of American alcohol remaining in its inventory, equating to 10% of the initial stock before removing U.S. products. Nova Scotia’s Crown-run alcohol retailer disclosed in its first-quarter financial results released on Tuesday that over $1.8 million of American alcohol was sold from April 1 to June 28.
In an email follow-up to CBC News, the NSLC indicated that as of August 17, about $1.5 million worth of American stock was still on hand. This translates to approximately 90% of the U.S. alcohol inventory being sold, with no intentions of replenishing it.
The NSLC ceased purchasing American alcohol in January 2025 and removed it from shelves in March 2025 as part of Canada’s response to the trade dispute with the U.S. The retail value of the removed alcohol amounted to $14,896,652, comprising over 600,000 units of product.
In December, the NSLC resumed selling the warehoused American products, with proceeds directed towards community food organizations. Subsequently, 315 organizations were set to receive grants totaling $5.3 million from the sales, ranging from $1,000 to $350,000 per group.
The revenue generated from American product sales is earmarked for food security initiatives, as confirmed by a Finance Department spokesperson to CBC. The availability of American alcohol varies across Canada, with full availability in Alberta but unavailable at LCBO, Ontario’s Crown-operated liquor retailer, one of the world’s largest alcohol purchasers.
Numerous provinces, including Nova Scotia, fall in between these extremes. The decision by several Crown-run alcohol retailers not to purchase American alcohol has negatively impacted the U.S. alcohol industry and emerged as a significant trade issue. Chris Swonger, president and CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, lamented the adverse effects of these actions during an interview with CBC’s Power and Politics in May.
Globally, American alcohol exports decreased by 3.8% in 2025, primarily due to the boycott of U.S. alcohol in many Canadian provinces. The council noted that excluding Canada from the statistics would have resulted in a 2.5% increase in spirit exports for the year.
Last year, Brown-Forman, the parent company of Jack Daniel’s whisky and Woodford Reserve bourbon, reported a 62% drop in sales to Canada during its first fiscal quarter. In Nova Scotia, American alcohol products are those made, manufactured, or produced in the U.S., allowing beers like Budweiser or Coors brewed in Canadian facilities to remain available for purchase.
Products such as Southern Comfort, promoted as “The spirit of New Orleans,” continue to be sold at NSLC outlets since they are manufactured in Montreal.