A Majority of Canadians Support the Ban on American Whiskey
As we reported recently, the whiskey tariff trade war between the U.S. and Canada continues to simmer, with the most recent salvo fired by the Trump administration in the form of a new 50 percent tariff. Canada has been pushing back with tariffs of its own, but perhaps the most effective tool has been the ban on American booze enacted last year, which a new survey shows wide support for.
Last month, Trump announced a new 50 percent tariff on a wide array of Canadian goods, including things like hockey equipment, cowhides, wine, beer, and whisky. This tariff, which is set to go into effect on August 19, was a direct response to Canadian tariffs on American auto parts, which were a response to the initial round of levies the Trump administration imposed last year. Back in March of 2025, most Canadian provinces banned the sale of American booze, and to date only Alberta and Saskatchewan have lifted their bans. Also last month, Republican congresswoman Claudia Tenney proposed what she called the CANADA Act (“Combating Attacks on our National Alcoholic Drinks by Allies”) to investigate the ban.
Indeed, the effects on American whiskey brands and distilleries have been pronounced. The Trump administration said that Canadian imports of U.S. alcoholic beverages decreased by approximately 81 percent (from approximately $718 million to approximately $137 million) in 2026 compared to the same time period in 2025. As we reported last month, the premier of British Columbia, David Eby, said there’s “not a chance in hell” that U.S. booze will return to shelves there, even while Canadian trade group Spirits Canada urged engagement with the U.S. to try to remove the tariffs.
According to a new survey conducted by Abacus Data, seven in 10 Canadians in British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Atlantic Canada support the ban on American booze, even when told that it could lead to even more tariffs. Sixty-nine percent of respondents said that Canada should “keep the restrictions on U.S. alcohol in place,” while just 19 percent said they should be lifted and 11 percent said they were “not sure.”
According to Abacus, support was highest in British Columbia at 72 percent, with Ontario and Atlantic Canada at 69 percent and Manitoba at 63 percent. Aged played a factor in the results—60 percent of respondents aged 30 to 44 supported the ban, while 78 percent of people aged 60 and over were in favor. Political affiliations showed more disparity, however. About eight in 10 Liberal and New Democratic Party voters were in favor of the ban (83 percent and 84 percent), while a small majority of of Conservative voters supported it (53 percent). And 19 percent of respondents claimed they would like Canadian provinces to keep the American booze ban, regardless of what ends up happening with tariffs.
“These results suggest provincial governments have considerable public room to keep American alcohol off their shelves,” said Abacus Data CEO David Coletto in a statement. “This is not simply about wine, beer, or spirits. The results reflect a broader public instinct that Canada should not reward economic pressure with immediate concessions. Most people would rather accept some risk of retaliation than remove a countermeasure without securing something in return.” As mentioned before, the new 50 percent tariff is set to go into effect on August 19, so we will update you with any news about this.
