Customers urged to boycott Russian vodkas
Customers visiting Woodman’s grocery stores will find empty shelves where the Russian vodka was once found.
In a move similar to other supermarkets and liquor stores across the country, Woodman’s Market decided last week to no longer carry Russian vodka in its stores. Russian brands being dropped are Hammer and Sickle and Standard Vodka — which is owned by Russian billionaire Roustam Tariko. The change comes in response to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine that Russian President Vladimir Putin enacted without provocation.
The decision was made in support of the Ukrainian people, said Clint Woodman, president of the Wisconsin grocery store chain.
“What’s going on in Ukraine is awful and what’s happening to their people is awful… so basically we wanted to support the Ukrainian people and not support what Russia is doing right now.”
Woodman said that his chain will mark all Russian vodkas at half price and upon the last bottle being sold they will not be buying any more for the foreseeable future. Woodman said that he hopes to replace the Russian vodka with Ukrainian brands to further show support.
Similarly, shoppers arriving Total Wine & More will no longer find Russian vodka as the company announced in a statement it will no longer carry Russian products and instead offer a Ukrainian option.
When Total Wine & More shoppers look for Russian vodka on the company’s website, they will be rerouted to Ukrainian vodka.
International sanctions have been
“Dumping Russian Vodka? We’ve got you! Our Vodka is made locally right on Main Street in Waterford, WI!” Waterford Stillhouse, on Facebook
put in place against Russian President Vladimir Putin and the country’s economy.
Support urged for local distillers
At the local level, Wisconsinites have been urged on social media to take a stand via boycotts and support local products such as Leap Spirits, started by former Green Bay Packer Hall-ofFamer Leroy Butler, and Wisconsinbased Waterford Stillhouse.
Waterford Stillhouse encouraged consumers to make the switch from Russian vodkas to their products in a Facebook post that read, “Dumping Russian Vodka? We’ve got you! Our Vodka is made locally right on Main Street in Waterford, WI!”
Milwaukee drinking spots are also reacting with Dr. Martin Luther King Dr. club RWB Milwaukee deciding not to carry Russian vodka.
Milwaukee staple Lakefront Brewery created an anti-Putin crowler.
According to a Facebook post from the brewery, with every purchase of a 32-ounce to-go can, filled with any one of the brewery’s draft beers, $10 will be sent to the National Bank of Ukraine’s Humanitarian Assistance to Ukrainians.
Lakefront has been exporting to Ukraine, and thus, wanted to find a way to support the Ukrainian people — even if it’s just through a disdain for the Russian leader.
“The relationship with our friends in Ukraine has been growing for some time,” Andy Jungwirth, Lakefront’s export beer sales manager, said in the Facebook post.
“And the recent events have broken our hearts. When we can help, we feel empowered. And now Lakefront fans can too.”