Stock Up Now: Doug Ford Confirms Crown Royal Ban From Ontario Stores in February 2026
Look... I'm just gonna be straight with you here.
If you're someone who enjoys Crown Royal with your Friday night pizza, or if it's been your go-to gift for your dad's birthday for the past decade... you might want to grab a few extra bottles. Because in about a month, that iconic purple bag won't be sitting on LCBO shelves anymore.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford just confirmed what he's been threatening since September: Crown Royal whisky will be removed from Liquor Control Board of Ontario stores when the Amherstburg bottling plant closes next month. And honestly? This isn't just about politics or trade disputes or corporate restructuring. It's about 200 people losing their jobs... and one politician who's decided he's had enough.
What Actually Happened Here
So here's the thing. Back in August 2025, Diageo, the massive international drinks company that owns Crown Royal, announced they'd be shutting down their bottling facility in Amherstburg, Ontario. The move will affect about 200 jobs, with the company claiming it's all part of their North American supply chain restructuring.
Ford's response? Well, it was… memorable. At a press conference in September, he literally poured out an entire bottle of Crown Royal on the ground. Called the decision "dumb as a bag of hammers." Said "you hurt my people, I'm gonna hurt you" directly to Diageo's leadership.
And you know what? People thought maybe it was just political theater. A dramatic moment that would blow over.
Turns out... he meant it.
This week, Ford doubled down. "As soon as they close that plant. So, you better stock up there," he told reporters. Not Smirnoff (which he'd also threatened). Not all Diageo products. Just Crown Royal, the whisky that's been bottled in that Windsor-area plant for decades.
The Real Story Behind the Closure
Here's where it gets complicated (and honestly, a little frustrating if you're trying to follow the logic).
Diageo insists this has nothing to do with tariffs. They claim it's about operational efficiency, streamlining their supply chain, cutting costs. Bottling for the U.S. market is moving from the Amherstburg plant to a new facility in Alabama, while bottling for Canadian consumers will relocate to Valleyfield, Quebec.
But Ford? He's not buying it. "It's a bunch of BS," the Premier told reporters. "It's all going to Alabama. Mark my words, it's going to Alabama."
And look, I get both sides here. Companies restructure. They optimize. They make decisions based on spreadsheets and profit margins and global supply chain considerations. That's business.
But when you're talking about a plant that's been operating for a century... when you're looking at families who've worked there for decades... when you're one of those 200 workers who just got told their job is disappearing in February...
Those spreadsheets don't mean much.
Why This Matters More Than You Think
So why should you care about a whisky ban? Especially if you're more of a beer person, or you don't even drink?
Because this is about power. And relationships. And what happens when a massive international corporation makes decisions that hurt local communities.
The LCBO isn't just any customer. Because Ontario is Canada's most populous province, with over 15 million people, LCBO's quasi-monopoly status made it one of the world's largest purchasers of alcoholic beverages. We're talking hundreds of millions of dollars in annual purchases from Diageo alone.
Ford's basically saying: "You're walking away from one of your biggest customers? Fine. But there are consequences."
It's the kind of move that makes you think... what would you do if your biggest client treated you this way? Would you just accept it? Or would you push back?
The Workers Caught in the Middle
You know what kills me about this whole situation? It's the people like Jocelyn Girard.
She's a mom of four who recently got hired at the plant. Moved her entire family to Amherstburg for this job. Signed a one-year lease. Got her kids settled in new schools.
"It's stressful for sure. I'm hoping that with Unifor and Diageo, they can come to some sort of agreement to keep the plant open," she told reporters in September.
That hope? It didn't pan out. In November, 89% of union members voted to accept an enhanced severance package. The plant will close as scheduled in February 2026.
And despite some rumors about potential buyers, Diageo apparently rejected at least one multi-million-dollar offer from another company interested in keeping the facility running.
The Crown Royal Connection
Here's something that makes this whole thing even more... let's call it "layered."
Crown Royal isn't just any whisky. It was introduced in 1939 by Samuel Bronfman as a tribute to the royal tour of Canada by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the first visit of a reigning monarch to Canada.
Bronfman allegedly experimented with over 600 blends before presenting the first bottle in a cut glass decanter, wrapped in a regal purple velvet bag. That purple bag? It's become iconic. People save them, repurpose them, collect them.
The whisky itself is made from roughly 50 different whiskies blended together. It's been the top-selling Canadian whisky in the United States for decades. This iconic brand commands over 40% of Canadian whisky sales in America.
So when Ford says he's pulling it from shelves... he's not messing around with some minor brand. This is a big deal for Diageo's bottom line.
What Happens Next
So... February 2026. That's when everything changes.
The Amherstburg plant shuts down. Approximately 160 members will have the option to leave immediately or remain until the plant shut downs. Crown Royal disappears from LCBO shelves across Ontario.
And then what?
Well, if you want Crown Royal after that, you've got options:
- Buy it in Quebec
- Order it online from other provinces
- Drive across the border to Michigan
- Stock up now while you still can
The irony? Crown Royal destined for Canadian markets will still be made and bottled at existing plants in Manitoba and Quebec. It's not like the whisky stops being Canadian. It's not like it becomes unavailable everywhere.
It'll just be unavailable here. In Ontario. Where almost 40% of Canadians live.
The Bigger Picture
Look, I'm not here to tell you whether Ford's decision is right or wrong. That's above my pay grade, and honestly... it's complicated.
On one hand, you've got a Premier using the power of a government-controlled monopoly to punish a private company for business decisions he doesn't like. That sets a precedent. What's next? What other products get delisted because of political disagreements?
On the other hand... 200 jobs. Families. Communities built around these plants. A century of whisky-making history in Amherstburg. Ford questioned why Diageo would "try to hurt" Ontario, which he says is the company's No. 1 customer.
Maybe it's not about whether the ban is good policy. Maybe it's about sending a message: you can't just make decisions in a boardroom thousands of miles away without considering the real people affected by those decisions.
What You Can Do Right Now
If you're a Crown Royal drinker, here's the practical reality:
Short term: Stock up if you want to. But don't go crazy, it's not disappearing forever, just from Ontario stores.
Long term: This might actually change. Political winds shift. Corporate strategies evolve. Union negotiations happen. There's talk about other companies potentially taking over the Amherstburg facility.
And here's something interesting: the mayor of Amherstburg claims Ford told him there are three companies interested in the operation. If one of them takes over and keeps those workers employed... maybe the ban becomes temporary. Maybe Crown Royal comes back.
We'll see.
The Real Question Nobody's Asking
You know what strikes me about this whole situation? It's not really about whisky at all.
It's about what happens when globalization meets local communities. When corporate efficiency clashes with human consequences. When politicians decide they have to do something, even if that something is symbolic, even if it won't bring those jobs back.
Ford's not going to force Diageo to keep that plant open. The ban won't change their strategic decision-making in some London boardroom. But it sends a signal: actions have consequences. Relationships matter. You can't just treat people as line items on a spreadsheet.
Is it effective policy? Is it good governance? Is it the right way to handle international trade and corporate relations?
I don't know. But I do know this: come February, when you walk into an LCBO and don't see that purple bag... you'll remember there were 200 people in Amherstburg who used to make what was inside it.
And maybe, just maybe, that matters more than we think.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I still buy Crown Royal in Ontario after February 2026?
Not at LCBO stores, but you might find it at duty-free shops, order it online from other provinces, or purchase it outside Ontario. The ban only applies to LCBO retail locations.
Q: Will other Diageo products like Smirnoff or Johnnie Walker be banned too?
Ford previously threatened to remove all Diageo products but has since clarified the ban will focus specifically on Crown Royal. Other Diageo brands currently remain available.
Q: Is Crown Royal still made in Canada?
Yes. The whisky is distilled and aged in Gimli, Manitoba. The Amherstburg plant only handled bottling operations. Crown Royal for Canadian markets will now be bottled at the Valleyfield, Quebec facility.
Q: Why is Diageo closing the Amherstburg plant?
Diageo claims it's part of their "Accelerate" program targeting $625 million in cost savings through supply chain restructuring. They're moving U.S.-market bottling to Alabama while consolidating Canadian operations in Quebec.
Q: How many jobs are being lost?
Approximately 168 unionized positions will be eliminated when the plant closes. These are skilled workers, many with decades of experience in whisky bottling and production.
Q: Is there any chance the ban could be reversed?
Potentially. If another company takes over the Amherstburg facility and maintains those jobs, Ford has hinted the ban might be reconsidered. Political situations also change over time.
Q: What should I do if Crown Royal is my regular drink?
Consider buying a few extra bottles before February 2026, explore online ordering options from other provinces, or try alternative Canadian whiskies available at the LCBO.