Good morning from the Fundy shore — the tide's turning, and so is New Brunswick. Let's get into it.

### You won't believe what our Premier said about booze

I'll tell you what, you never know what the Premier is going to say next, right? And she's out there making headlines again, this time telling the Americans that if they drop their tariffs on some of our stuff, she's happy to put their booze back on our shelves. It's a real, 'you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours' situation, except it's with beer and wine, and it's got everyone talking from the waterfront uptown to the shops on King Street.

Now, if you're like me, you probably didn't even notice some American brands were missing. But the province pulled them back in 2022 as a way to push back against tariffs the U.S. put on things like softwood lumber and some of our other exports. So, for the last year and a bit, if you've been looking for certain American spirits or beers at the ANBL, you've been out of luck. The Premier says it's "doing its job" and getting their attention, and she's not budging until those tariffs are gone. It's a bold move for a province our size, right?

* **For your bar cart:** Don't expect American bourbons and craft beers to magically reappear overnight. This is a negotiation, and those take time.

* **For your wallet:** If the tariffs eventually get dropped, it could mean better prices on some of our exports, which is always good for the local economy and the folks who work in those industries.

* **For bragging rights:** It certainly puts New Brunswick on the map in a unique way, showing we're not afraid to stand up for ourselves on the international stage.

It's a curious thing, this liquor ban. It's not every day you hear about a province using its alcohol sales as a bargaining chip, is it? But it shows you that even here, on the edge of the Bay of Fundy, our economy is tied to bigger things. And sometimes, you gotta play hardball, even if it means a few less choices at your local ANBL.

Caleb Duguay-Firth, MiTL Sports Desk.

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