Other Russian Things We Can Boycott
Several states in the U.S. have enacted “vodka bans” in retaliation for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Leave aside the fact that very, very little (around 1%) of vodka on the U.S. market is actually connected to the country of Russia in any meaningful way. Most of the “Russian” vodka on U.S. shelves is bottled in other countries (including the U.S.) and little if any of that money goes back into Russian coffers. Stoli, for instance, is made in Latvia and headquartered in Luxembourg. Stoli Group, in fact, has issued a statement that it, “unequivocally condemns the Russian military action in Ukraine."
The act of banning something because we associate it with a country that we’re at odds with is usually ineffective and almost always looks very dumb in retrospect. Does anybody remember “Freedom Fries” when we weren’t happy with the French for not backing us up in Iraq? How about changing “sauerkraut” to “Liberty cabbage” during World War II?
But, if we’re in the mood to boycott Russian stuff why stop at vodka? Here are a few more famous Russian things we could put on the list:
1.) Russian Dressing
Just use Thousand Islands or Catalina until Putin pulls forces out of Ukraine
2.) Russian Roulette
I know this is a big ask, especially for those of you in league play. I would ask that all you Russian Roulette participants, amateur as well as pro, take a pause until this present crisis is past.
3.) Those Little Wooden Dolls That Have Even LITTLER Dolls Inside Them
I don’t know what these things are called, but every single person who I know who has visited Russia…this is what they brought me as a souvenir. Come on! Let’s hit ‘em where it hurts. Right in the souvenir doll-inside-a-doll trade.