Las Vegas Liquor Chain Ditches Russian Booze 'Indefinitely'

LAS VEGAS, NV — A chain of Las Vegas liquor stores said it will not sell Russian-made products for the foreseeable future.

Lee's Discount Liquor wrote in a Facebook post Monday that it removed all Russian-made products from its stores in a show of support for Ukraine.

The chain, founded by South Korean immigrant Hae Un Lee, has operated in the Las Vegas Valley for over three decades. It owns about 20 locations in the Las Vegas area, as well as locations in Reno, Mesquite and Wendover.

The chain clarified that customers will still see brands such as Stoli and Smirnoff.

"We are still selling vodkas that are confused for being Russian but are not produced in Russia (Stoli, Smirnoff, Karkov and many more)," the chain said.

Russian vodkas have been pulled from shelves nationwide amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Jacob Liquor Exchange in Wichita, Kansas, pulled more than 100 bottles of Russian vodka from shelves, even pouring some on the ground, KSNW reported.

“I think the whole world knows by now that Russia’s at war with Ukraine for no apparent reason,” Jamie Stratton, Jacob Liquor Exchange partner and wine director, told the TV station. “I guess this is our sanction. We don’t support it. There’s no reason to support it. There’s no reason for them to invade the Ukrainians, and this may be small, but every small thing makes a difference.”

On Sunday, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board instructed all Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores and licensee service centers to remove Russian-made products from shelves as a show of solidarity and support for the people of Ukraine. All Russian products were taken off the shelves at Montgomery County Alcohol and Beverage Service stores in Maryland, while Total Wine & More removed Russian products from its shelves nationwide.

In Cobb County, Georgia, the owner of longtime neighborhood bar Doc's Food & Spirits changed the outdoor sign to the Ukrainian flag's colors and dumped all of their Russian vodka down the drain.

In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott asked Texas retailers over the weekend to pull Russian booze from their shelves, too.

"I’ve asked the members of the Texas Restaurant Association, Texas Package Stores Association & all Texas retailers to voluntarily remove all Russian products from their shelves," he tweeted.