Australian bottle shops are removing Russian made vodka from their shelves in a show of support to Ukraine amid the Russian-Ukraine war.
Many of Australia’s leading alcohol retailers including BWS, Dan Murphy’s, Liquorland, Vintage Cellars, Cellarmasters and First Choice have either already stripped the spirits from their shelves, or are in the process of doing so.
Endeavour group, which owns Dan Murphys, BWS and Cellarmasters, have made a statement about the removal of Russian vodka from their shelves.
“As an organisation, Endeavour Group is deeply concerned with the situation in Ukraine and we join the calls for peace,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
“Following feedback from a variety of stakeholders, we have decided to remove products of Russian origin from our stores, hotels and online businesses in the coming days.”
Coles Liquor, who owns Liquorland, Vintage Cellars and First Choice, has said that they are in the process of removing Russian liquor from their bottle shops.
“As an organisation, Endeavour Group is deeply concerned with the situation in Ukraine and we join the calls for peace,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
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“Following feedback from a variety of stakeholders, we have decided to remove products of Russian origin from our stores, hotels and online businesses in the coming days.”
Russian vodka is one of the country’s main exports to Australia. The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations requested bottle shops to boycott the sale of Russian liquor in a move of solidarity for Ukraine.
“We all understand the importance of business and economics, but in Australia, people are drinking Russian vodka and consuming Russian products. We know [a ban] is hardcore, but this is a war and the message has to get through that all trade with Russia be stopped,” the federation’s chairman, Stefan Romaniw, told The Australian Financial Review.
“That is the only thing that Putin and his cowboys will understand. We have to hit them where it hurts, and that means money.”
The move comes as a response to the Ukraine invasion by Russia. It’s the fifth day that Ukraine has been under attack by the Russian military, under the orders of their president Vladimir Putin. The majority of the Western world has made moves to support Ukraine, including Australia who has implemented sanctions on Russia and sent Ukraine both lethal and non-lethal military equipment to help them protect their country.
