(The Hill) – In addition to official government sanctions, bars and liquor stores in the United States and Canada are trying to harm Russia economically in response to its invasion of Ukraine by refusing to sell alcohol. Russian vodka and other Russian alcohols.

“Ontario joins Canada’s allies in condemning the Russian government’s act of aggression against the people of Ukraine and will lead the [Liquor Control Board of Ontario] to remove all Russian-made products from store shelves,” said Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy. tweetedadding “#StandwithUkraine”.

“The people of Ontario will always oppose tyranny and oppression,” Bethlenfalvy later added.

Bethlenfalvy’s announcement came shortly after Canada’s Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corporation (NLC) said it would also phase out Russian products.

“The Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation, along with other liquor authorities across Canada, has made the decision to remove Russian-origin products from its shelves,” NLC Liquor Store tweeted.

The company will no longer sell Russian Standard vodka or Russian Standard Platinum vodka in a bid to condemn Moscow’s recent actions.

Liquor stores and bars in the United States also boycotted the sale of Russian-made liquor.

Jamie Stratton, manager of the Jacob Liquor Exchange in Wichita, Kansas, told The Hill that his store removed bottles of Russian vodka from its shelves, calling it a “small penalty.”

He also noted that the store plans to highlight Ukrainian vodka.

Virginia State Sen. L. Louise Lucas (D) late Saturday morning added to calls to remove Russian alcohol products.

“We must take strong action to support Ukraine, so I call on @GovernorVA to order the immediate removal of all Russian vodka and other Russian products from our ABC stores,” she said in a tweet.

Lucas noted that the pullout is supported by both Democrats and Republicans in Virginia, saying, “I’m inundated with texts from my colleagues supporting this idea on both sides of the aisle.”

Lisa Conley-Kendzior contributed.