The 487 liquor agencies Ohio were directed to pull “Green Mark Vodka” and “Russian Standard Vodka” from their shelves immediately.
Gov. Mike DeWine (R) also ordered the state’s Department of Commerce to cease the purchase and sale of all vodka made by the Russian company Russian Standard Vodka.
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) also signed an executive order directing all New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlets to remove Russian-made and Russian-branded spirits until further notice. The order also applies to grocery stores who buy their beer and wine though the state.
And I suppose if there are any Russian beer or Russian wines, that’s coming off the shelves too. So yeah, it’s all alcoholic spirits that would come through the state of New Hampshire now we’re pulling off the shelves,” Sununu said.
Sununu told News 9 the state sells around $20 million of Russian-based liquor products a year. He said the move is not only symbolic but could have some impact on the Russian liquor industry, especially if other states take similar action.
“New Hampshire stands with the people of Ukraine in their fight for freedom,” he said on Twitter.
According to Ohio’s DeWine, Russian Standard Vodka is the only overseas, Russian-owned vodka distillery whose vodka is sold in the state.
The Ohio Division of Liquor Control estimates that there are approximately 6,400 bottles of vodka made by the company currently for sale in the state.
He also declared Sunday a day of prayer for the people of Ukraine and said the Ukrainian flag will fly outside the state capital and the governor’s residence “to show support for those under attack in Ukraine and for Ohio’s Ukrainian population.”
This story is developing and will be updated.