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Northern bar group boycotts Russian vodka across all venues to show solidarity with Ukraine
Russian products will no longer be served across all of its venues
A leading northern hospitality group will no longer be serving Russian vodka across its venues to demonstrate its solidarity with Ukraine.
Arc Inspirations, which owns and operates Manchester venues such as Box, Manahatta and Banyan, has announced that Russian vodka will no longer be poured in any of its bars.
Sharing its announcement on Twitter, Arc Inspirations wrote: “To show our support to the people of Ukraine we will no longer be pouring any Russian vodka in any of our bars. #standwithukraine”.
Half of Europe, a nightlife advocacy network for eastern Europe, has also urged nightlife businesses and policy-makers to boycott Russian drinks and to decline any invitations to perform in Russia.
Greater Manchester’s night time economy advisor Sacha Lord has urged business owners to follow Half of Europe’s policy, writing on Twitter: “Nightlife businesses and policy makers boycott Russia, including dropping any Russian products inc drinks.
“I urge others to follow.”
Other Manchester establishments have also been banning Russian-manufactured products, with Bundobust’s co-founder Marko Husak suggesting other ways venues can show their support.
Read More: All the latest as Russia launches ‘full-scale’ invasion of Ukraine
He wrote: “I’ve had quite a few messages from my colleagues in the restaurant, bar and beer industries asking if there is anything that they can do to help, so I’ve suggested that they can help by stop stocking Russian products.
“1. RESTAURANTS, BARS PUBS please stop stocking Russian Vodka. Instead use brands like Finlandia and Eristoff for house pours, and Polish and Ukrainian (of course) for something special. There’s also some great producers here in the UK.
“2. BREWERIES & BEER BARS please don’t stock or collaborate with Russian breweries, or invite them to, or attend their beer festivals.
“3. If you’re looking to ask guests to donate to charity (£1 added to bill or proceeds of a specific dish) may I suggest the #helpukraine gofundme campaign.“
This comes as Boris Johnson promised a ‘massive package of economic sanctions to hobble the Russian economy’ following its invasion of Ukraine last week.