Ontario Premier Doug Ford has declared he will act on his previous threat to pull the popular Crown Royal whisky from Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) shelves. The move is a direct response to the spirit's parent company, Diageo, and its plan to shutter a bottling facility within the province.
The Source of the Conflict
The confrontation stems from Diageo's corporate decision to close one of its Ontario-based bottling plants in the coming months. Premier Ford has framed this as an attack on local jobs and Ontario's economic interests. In a characteristically blunt statement, Ford said, "I can't wait" to execute the removal, signaling no intention to back down from the high-stakes standoff with the global beverage giant.
A Dramatic Display of Displeasure
The Premier's resolve was vividly displayed during a press conference in Kitchener, Ontario, on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. In a staged act of protest, Ford was photographed emptying a bottle of Crown Royal whisky, visually underscoring his commitment to the retaliatory measure. This public spectacle set the stage for the formal announcement made on Monday, January 5, 2026.
Potential Repercussions and Next Steps
Removing a top-selling brand like Crown Royal from the LCBO, the province's sole legal retailer of spirits, would represent an unprecedented escalation in a dispute between a provincial government and a major alcohol supplier. The action could have significant consequences for consumer choice, LCBO revenues, and Ontario's broader business climate. While the specific timeline for the product's delisting remains unclear, Ford's latest comments indicate the process is imminent.
This development places the LCBO in a difficult position, caught between the government's directive and its commercial relationships. Industry analysts are watching closely to see if Diageo will alter its closure plans under this pressure or if the Ontario government will follow through on a decision that could reshape the province's alcohol retail landscape.
