NOVI (WWJ) -- A popular wine and liquor retailer with 229 stores across the U.S. is pulling Russia-linked products from shelves to show support for Ukraine.
Total Wine & More — which has locations on both sides of the river in Brentwood, Town and County, Chesterfield and Fairview Heights — has taken what some are calling the bold step of halting sales of Russia-made and Russia-branded products.
What about Russian vodka?
Shopper Keith Williams of Detroit told WWJ's Charlie Langton that we can easily do without that stuff.
"They should throw it out of the country; get rid of Russian vodka! You've got (Russian Present Vladimir) Putin trying to destroy the world. Why should we buy their products?" Williams said.
"We can get American vodka... Where's the American vodka? Please don't give money to Putin, so he can keep destroying to the world!"
As of Tuesday, online shoppers who search for Russian vodka at totalwine.com are presented with two Ukrainian flags and the message: "Stand with Ukraine: In support of the Ukrainian people, we have removed all Russian-made products from our shelves." The page also includes a link to shop for Ukrainian-made Khor Platinum Vodka.
Something to keep in mind: Some of the popular vodka brands consumers think of as Russian are not produced in Russia, according to Lisa Hawkins, with the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, in an interview with The Associated Press.
For example, Stoli said on its website that the brand and its owner left Russia nearly two decades ago, and is registered, manufactured and bottled in Latvia. In statement, Stoli Group said the company denounces and condemns Russian aggression in Ukraine.
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