--- title: "Ontario shoppers reject U.S. alcohol return as trade talks hinge on ban" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/ontario-shoppers-reject-us-alcohol-return-as-trade-talks-hinge-on-ban" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/ontario-shoppers-reject-us-alcohol-return-as-trade-talks-hinge-on-ban" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/ontario-shoppers-reject-us-alcohol-return-as-trade-talks-hinge-on-ban.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/ontario-shoppers-reject-us-alcohol-return-as-trade-talks-hinge-on-ban" category: "Politics" published: "2026-08-20T22:25:29.084Z" source_reported: "2026-08-20T20:58:58.083Z" updated: "2026-08-20T22:25:29.084Z" trust_score: 55 critic_score: 55 hype_score: 25 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-20T23:30:15.169249+00:00" --- # Ontario shoppers reject U.S. alcohol return as trade talks hinge on ban *Premier Doug Ford silent on whether Ontario will lift 2025 ban on American wine and spirits* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 55 of 100, higher is better. One full report with named sources; 16 digests agree on key facts. - Craft 55 of 100, higher is better. Full report quotes affected people; digests lack depth. - Hype 25 of 100, lower is better. Headline overstates shopper opposition without evidence. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - The ban on American alcohol in Canadian stores began in 2025 as retaliation for U.S. tariffs on steel, forestry and auto industries. - Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said Prime Minister Mark Carney told premiers no trade deal would proceed without U.S. alcohol returning to shelves. - Ontario Premier Doug Ford has not confirmed whether Ontario will lift the ban, though Alberta and Saskatchewan already have. - Some Ontario shoppers said they would boycott American alcohol even if it returned to stores, citing political and ethical reasons. A ban on American alcohol in Canadian stores, imposed in 2025 in response to U.S. tariffs, has become a central issue in trade negotiations between the two countries. The ban applies to wine, spirits and beer sold in provincial liquor stores, including Ontario’s Liquor Control Board. Alberta and Saskatchewan lifted their bans earlier this year, but Ontario has not confirmed whether it will follow. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said on 20 August 2026 that Prime Minister Mark Carney told premiers during a briefing that no trade deal would be finalised without a commitment to restock U.S. alcohol. Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham said all premiers agreed to the demand, but Ontario Premier Doug Ford has not publicly confirmed Ontario’s position. Ford previously said he was open to reversing the ban if a "fair deal" protected Ontario industries affected by U.S. tariffs. Interviews with shoppers outside an LCBO store in Toronto found mixed reactions. Some said they would not buy American alcohol even if it returned, citing opposition to U.S. trade policies or broader boycotts of American products. Others said they missed specific brands, such as bourbon, but would prioritise Canadian products. One shopper linked the boycott to political opposition to U.S. support for Israel. ## What the coverage left out No right-rated outlet ran the story at all. None of the digests from left or centre-rated outlets mentioned the economic impact of the ban on Canadian retailers or U.S. producers. The full report from CTV News did not include a response from the U.S. government or trade representatives on the alcohol ban or the broader tariff dispute. ## Who covered it Shares of the 16 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 63% (10) - Centre: 37% (6) - Right: 0% (0) 2 of 18 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-20T23:30:15.169249+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 9 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-21T00:30:10.675Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The nine left-rated digests led on shopper opposition to the return of American alcohol. All carried the voices of Toronto residents who said they would not purchase U.S. wine or bourbon, even if the ban lifted. The digests quoted shoppers who framed their refusal in political terms, including opposition to U.S. tariffs and broader boycotts of American goods. None of the left-rated digests quoted Premier Ford or federal officials on the trade negotiations themselves. ### Centre - The seven centre-rated digests also led on shopper reactions, but included more detail on the trade negotiations. Six of the seven mentioned Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew’s statement that Prime Minister Mark Carney had made U.S. alcohol a condition for a trade deal. Four of the seven noted that Alberta and Saskatchewan had already lifted their bans. The full report from CTV News, the only centre-rated outlet to publish its own article, quoted Premier Ford’s past comments about seeking a "fair deal" and included reactions from premiers in other provinces who declined to comment. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 12 - unknown: 2 - veryHigh: 4 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Battlefords NOW](https://battlefordsnow.com/2026/08/20/some-shoppers-say-not-a-chance-theyll-buy-american-booze-if-ontario-brings-it-back) — Some shoppers say ‘not a chance’ they’ll Buy American booze if Ontario brings it back - [Ckpg Today](https://ckpgtoday.ca/2026/08/20/some-shoppers-say-not-a-chance-theyll-buy-american-booze-if-ontario-brings-it-back) — Some shoppers say ‘not a chance’ they’ll Buy American booze if Ontario brings it back - [CTV News](https://ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/some-shoppers-say-not-a-chance-theyll-buy-american-booze-if-ontario-brings-it-back) — Some shoppers say ‘not a chance’ they’ll buy American booze if Ontario brings it back - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/canada/2026/08/20/some-shoppers-say-not-a-chance-theyll-buy-american-booze-if-ontario-brings-it-back) — Some shoppers say 'not a chance' they'll Buy American booze if Ontario brings it back - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/ontario/some-shoppers-say-not-a-chance-theyll-buy-american-booze-if-ontario-brings-it-back/article_15cea10c-bd64-5d12-9859-9a6ab62c0830.html) — Some shoppers say 'not a chance' they'll Buy American booze if Ontario brings it back - [Rocky Mountain Outlook](https://rmoutlook.com/national-news/some-shoppers-say-not-a-chance-theyll-buy-american-booze-if-ontario-brings-it-back-12689142) — Some shoppers say 'not a chance' they'll Buy American booze if Ontario brings it back - [SooToday.com](https://sootoday.com/national-news/some-shoppers-say-not-a-chance-theyll-buy-american-booze-if-ontario-brings-it-back-12689142) — Some shoppers say 'not a chance' they'll Buy American booze if Ontario brings it back - [Airdrie City View](https://airdriecityview.com/national-news/some-shoppers-say-not-a-chance-theyll-buy-american-booze-if-ontario-brings-it-back-12689142) — Some shoppers say 'not a chance' they'll Buy American booze if Ontario brings it back - [Orillia Matters](https://orilliamatters.com/national-news/some-shoppers-say-not-a-chance-theyll-buy-american-booze-if-ontario-brings-it-back-12689142) — Some shoppers say 'not a chance' they'll Buy American booze if Ontario brings it back - [The Record](https://therecord.com/news/canada/some-shoppers-say-not-a-chance-theyll-buy-american-booze-if-ontario-brings-it-back/article_8d380ca1-482e-566d-a7e6-2e9fb99c8d80.html) — Some shoppers say 'not a chance' they'll Buy American booze if Ontario brings it back - [Sudbury](https://sudbury.com/national/some-shoppers-say-not-a-chance-theyll-buy-american-booze-if-ontario-brings-it-back-12689142) — Some shoppers say 'not a chance' they'll Buy American booze if Ontario brings it back - [Bay Today](https://baytoday.ca/national-news/some-shoppers-say-not-a-chance-theyll-buy-american-booze-if-ontario-brings-it-back-12689142) — Some shoppers say 'not a chance' they'll Buy American booze if Ontario brings it back - [InnisfilToday.ca](https://innisfiltoday.ca/national-news/some-shoppers-say-not-a-chance-theyll-buy-american-booze-if-ontario-brings-it-back-12689142) — Some shoppers say 'not a chance' they'll Buy American booze if Ontario brings it back - [ElliotLakeToday.com](https://elliotlaketoday.com/national-news/some-shoppers-say-not-a-chance-theyll-buy-american-booze-if-ontario-brings-it-back-12689142) — Some shoppers say 'not a chance' they'll Buy American booze if Ontario brings it back - [Medicine Hat News](https://medicinehatnews.com/news/national-news/2026/08/20/some-shoppers-say-not-a-chance-theyll-buy-american-booze-if-ontario-brings-it-back) — Some shoppers say 'not a chance' they'll Buy American booze if Ontario brings it back - [Oakville News](https://oakvillenews.org/national-news/some-shoppers-say-not-a-chance-theyll-buy-american-booze-if-ontario-brings-it-back-12689142) — Some shoppers say 'not a chance' they'll Buy American booze if Ontario brings it back - [1059theregion.com](https://1059theregion.com/some-shoppers-say-not-a-chance-theyll-buy-american-booze-if-ontario-brings-it-back) — Some shoppers say ‘not a chance’ they’ll Buy American booze if Ontario brings it back – 105.9 The Region - [meadowlakeNOW](https://meadowlakenow.com/2026/08/20/some-shoppers-say-not-a-chance-theyll-buy-american-booze-if-ontario-brings-it-back) — Some shoppers say ‘not a chance’ they’ll Buy American booze if Ontario brings it back ## Questions **Why was American alcohol banned in Canadian stores?** The ban began in 2025 as retaliation for U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel, forestry and auto industries. It applies to wine, spirits and beer sold in provincial liquor stores, including Ontario’s LCBO. The ban remains in place in most provinces while trade negotiations continue. **What did Prime Minister Mark Carney say about the alcohol ban?** Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said on 20 August 2026 that Prime Minister Mark Carney told premiers no trade deal would be finalised without a commitment to restock U.S. alcohol. Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham said all premiers agreed to the demand, but Ontario has not confirmed its position. **Will Ontario lift the ban on American alcohol?** Ontario Premier Doug Ford has not confirmed whether the province will lift the ban. He previously said he was open to reversing it if a "fair deal" protected Ontario industries affected by U.S. tariffs. Alberta and Saskatchewan have already lifted their bans. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/ontario-shoppers-reject-us-alcohol-return-as-trade-talks-hinge-on-ban. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Ontario shoppers reject U.S. alcohol return as trade talks hinge on ban", https://mediabias.news/politics/ontario-shoppers-reject-us-alcohol-return-as-trade-talks-hinge-on-ban