Bacardi Returns to LCBO: Controversy Flares Over Bottling Origin and Political Messaging

After months of absence, Bacardi returns to LCBO stores across Ontario. The popular 1.5-liter rum bottles—stamped with “BACARDI BOTTLING CORP, JACKSONVILLE, FL, USA”—are once again available for purchase, stirring renewed debate about government trade policies and labeling standards.

The Ban: Why Bacardi Disappeared from LCBO Shelves

Earlier this year, Ontario’s Ford government pulled American-made alcohol from the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) as part of its broader political response to U.S. trade measures. That decision swept up Bacardi rum, which, though made from Puerto Rican rum, was bottled in Florida.

According to CityNews, the bottle label reads: “A blend of Puerto Rican rum,” while also listing the bottling location as Florida, a U.S. state. This contradiction led to the product’s removal under the Ford government’s restriction on U.S.-produced alcohol.

Bacardi Returns to LCBO Despite Bottling in Florida

So, what changed?

The LCBO clarified its stance in a statement to 680 NewsRadio, explaining that the origin of a product is determined by where it’s produced, not where it’s bottled:

“A product can be produced in one location and bottled in another. The country of origin declared for the product is where it is produced, and bottling the product in another location does not change the origin certificate.”

This interpretation paved the way for Bacardi’s return. Since the rum originates in Puerto Rico—a U.S. territory and not a state—the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) tariff rules don’t apply.

Understanding the CBSA Tariff Loophole

According to CityNews, the CBSA explicitly excludes products from U.S. territories from retaliatory surtaxes. Their guidance states:

“The surtax does not apply to goods eligible to be marked as originating from Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa or the U.S. Virgin Islands.”

This legal distinction allowed Bacardi to return to LCBO locations, even though it undergoes bottling in Florida.

Opposition Leaders Criticize Inconsistency

The political opposition at Queen’s Park didn’t stay silent. Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles called the government’s backtracking a sign of inconsistent policy:

“It’s consistent with this government’s lack of consistency in their approach to the tariff threat,” she told CBS News.

While Stiles supported the original decision to remove U.S.-made alcohol from LCBO shelves, she noted that the symbolic move may have delivered a diplomatic message:

“We have to send a message, and there are a few ways we can do that. I do think that it ruffled feathers in the United States.”

LCBO’s Massive Role in U.S. Alcohol Imports

As Ontario’s sole alcohol retailer and distributor, the LCBO holds massive purchasing power. The agency buys over $965 million in alcohol from the United States each year, stocking more than 3,600 American products sourced from 36 states.

This makes LCBO’s product decisions not just a provincial matter, but a signal to international trade partners.

Bacardi Returns to LCBO—But For How Long?

As Bacardi returns to LCBO shelves, questions remain. Will the political landscape shift again? Will labeling practices be scrutinized further? For now, the iconic rum is back in the hands of Ontario consumers, but its future may remain as volatile as the trade policies surrounding it.

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Source of information

CityNews Article — Bacardi rum bottled in Florida returns to LCBO shelves after Ford government’s U.S. product ban, written by Richard Southern

The image of the article is courtesy of © Benedek via Canva.com