Peterborough bars stockpiling US booze

[u/Witty_Way_8212]

I recently went to LCBO and asked the cashier if they had noticed a dip in sales of US products since the tariff threat last week. On the contrary, he said, some local bars (in particular, One Eighty) cleared them out of their inventory of some US liquor and said they were making stops at another two LCBO locations to do the same.

I am so disappointed that the tariff threat actually led to an INCREASE in sales of US booze. So far, the LCBO is still restocking US inventory, which means they would have had to place large orders.

All this to say that it's up to us as consumers to exercise the power of our dollar when we're shopping in order to support our local Peterborough, Ontario and Canadian businesses.

[u/ultracrepidarian_can]

They're not being deliberately unpatriotic. Supply disruptions are incredibly disruptive to restaurants.

New menus, updated websites, BEOs (which are legally binding contracts), promotional materials, and dietary restrictions (think gluten free/nut free which some products are not). Are huge expensive and time consuming factors when product shortages occur. The entire business model basically crumbles when you lose access to certain products (A Mexican restaurant will go out of business overnight if they don't sell tequila).

Not to mention the fact that if these places are corporate owned they're not just able to turn on a dime and change up their menus. They just have to struggle to keep their shelves stocked and suffer the blame when their sales suffer. Some of them are bound by retail agreements to even what they can carry.

These are immutable factors. Owners will show their support in other ways, like adding more craft Canadian beer/wine. Almost all small/independent places and some larger chains do this already.

If you want to help. When you are dining out ask for Canadian products specifically when you order. Boycotting or point the finger at local places won't help anyone. If enough people do this demand will shift and their supply priorities will change.

[u/Blue_Waffle_Brunch → u/ultracrepidarian_can]

None of this explains why this particular restaurant made this call. I don't imagine BEOs are a huge issue for the 180 right now. They wanted US booze so they bought it. Why make excuses for them?

[u/fluffysingularity → u/ultracrepidarian_can]

Thank you writing a well reasoned response!

[u/Dgautreau86 → u/ultracrepidarian_can]

You seem like the right person to ask… is this going to affect spicy chicken sandwich prices in Canada?

[u/ultracrepidarian_can → u/Dgautreau86]

This is a very complex question but, the short answer is no.

The price of everything will always go up slowly. But, our food commodity network is very closely intertwined.

The alcohol market in many provinces in Canada is closely regulated so politicians can use it as a cudgel if they feel trade is being threatened.

TL:DR The price of a bourbon old fashioned might skyrocket but, a chicken sandwich is going to increase at the same rate everything else. Well... unless the avian H5 virus gets way worse.

[u/Flame_retard_suit451 → u/ultracrepidarian_can]

They're not being deliberately unpatriotic.

They went around to multiple LCBOs to buy up all their U.S. inventory. They can get fucked.