The sweet and sour alcoholic beverage returns to Canadian shelves
Since President Donald Trump was voted back into office in Nov. 2024, Canada’s economic stability has been faulty. One of Trump’s first executive orders was adding a 25 per cent tariffs on imported goods from Canada and Mexico, as well as making comments about annexing Canada making it the 51st state. Since the United States is Canada’s largest trading partner, the tariffs have had a negative effect on the Canadian economy. In response, Canada reciprocated these tariffs, driving up the prices of products for purchase. Furthermore, the Canadian public and provincial governments also responded with boycotts of American products. Alcohol was included within these boycotts. As provincial and territorial-run liquor stores pulled American-made products from their shelves, U.S. alcoholic exports to Canada dropped 85 per cent by the second quarter compared to last year. U.S. liquor sales dropped 68 per cent compared to Canadian sales, which rose by 3.6 per cent according to global news.
This was problematic for U.S. liquor companies that relied on Canadian customers. One U.S. company in particular was Sourpuss, with 98 per cent of its sales coming from Canada. Chirps Bartender, Veronica Sawyer, said Sourpuss was used to make “a lot of our drinks and some of our house drinks as well,” one of them being their popular pornstar drink, which used red Sourpuss as a key ingredient. Sawyer said Chirps had “a lot of red Sourpuss stocked up since January,” so that they could continue making their most popular drinks. Once this stock ran out, they planned to have an “alternate substitute for the Sourpuss brand,” said Sawyer.
Since several Canadian distributors pulled U.S.-imported liquor from their shelves, according to global news, Sourpuss lost the majority of their market. Since Canadian liquor stores are not selling American liquor, Sourpuss has decided to move their manufacturing from Minnesota to Quebec, signing a five-year deal to produce, beginning early next year. Soon enough, Canadians will be able to purchase this popular drink in liquor stores again, and bars who have run out will be able to revert back to their original drinks. Sawyer says it will be a “very welcomed addition back to the bar,” as they will not have to rely on figuring out a way without it. She said it will make their lives easier, “not only when making the drink, but explaining it to customers as well.” and that they will, “be able to offer that same familiar taste that everyone is used to already.”
This was not just a win for Canadians who enjoy the popular alcoholic drink, but also in terms of the Canada-U.S. trade war, according to CTV. Sourpuss becomes one of many items relocated to Canada. This will help create infrastructure, as well as jobs and increase Canadian gross domestic product.