Would You Mind Buying Vodka in Colossal Gallon Jugs?
A new way to purchase vodka has raised eyebrows and gone viral on social media. In Canada, for a short time, vodka was being sold in 4 liter jugs, which is about equivalent to a US gallon.
On Friday, April 5th, pictures of jugs made of plastic and filled with vodka were posted to Super Value Liquor's Facebook page. The store is located in Edmonton, Alberta Canada. Labeled "Value Vodka", the jugs sold for $49.95 Canadian.
Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Minister Dale Nally said at a news conference on Monday "I don't think a four-liter plastic jug of vodka adds to the quality of the distillery industry we have in this province, I don't think that it is responsible pricing to price it like that." Despite his concerns, Nally says that the packaging was compliant with Alberta's rules and regulations.
Nally is also proposing legislation that would give his office the power to regulate liquor pricing in Alberta.
Nally's efforts surrounding the vodka jugs may be for naught as the company producing them, T-Rex Distillery, located in St. Albert, Alberta has halted production of the item according to a statement the business released on Monday.
In the statement, the distillery noted: "T-Rex Distillery acknowledges the comments by the public and the honorable Minister Dale Nally. As of today, T-Rex Distillery has not received any communications from AGLC, the government of Alberta, or minister Dale Nally. The product that was photographed at Super Value Liquor is a private-label product which was specifically produced & bottled for that customer at their own requested price. In general, there are no rules or guidelines provided by AGLC to how a product should be priced. The public feedback on the jugs has been fairly split. About half of the comments express concern, while the other half praises the jugs for innovation and convenience. Please rest assured, that you’ve been heard loud and clear by the T-Rex family. In response to the feedback T-Rex Distillery has received, we are halting the production of the jugs."
Currently, similar products are not available in the United States, though large bottles made of glass and shaped like their smaller counterparts are sometimes available, and hold 4.5 liters of liquid, and sometimes costs in the hundreds of dollars depending on brand.
Would you buy vodka in gallon jugs if sold here in the US?