The LCBO is discontinuing a brand of vodka after advocacy groups noted it was named for Josef Stalin, the infamous dictator of the former Soviet Union. A post made on the Ukrainian Canada Facebook page called for the removal of Stalinskaya Vodka at stores, citing problematic ties to Stalin’s involvement in the genocide of Ukraine ethnic groups. Ihor Michalchyshyn, the CEO of Ukrainian Canadian Congress’ (UCC), said when they heard about the liquor being sold at the stores, they reached out to LCBO, asking them to review the company’s community standards for names of alcohol. Following the review, they found the vodka “does not meet the LCBO’s name and labelling standards and is no longer available for sale,” an LCBO spokesperson told the Star. With files from Ashima Agnihotri

Source: thestar June 22, 2021 20:03 UTC