Francophobia Hits Local Liquor Stores

By Dottie Evans

It seems that some area residents are taking their displeasure with the French government and its opposition to the United States’ planned invasion of Iraq seriously enough to boycott French products.

While the manager of a local food market says that he is not seeing any consumer backlash, liquor store owners are reporting a definite downswing on the buying of French wines.

Bob Schnut, proprietor of Yankee Discount Wine & Liquors at the Queen Street Shopping Center, said Tuesday that sales on his 2000 Bordeaux wines are definitely off.

“I had a few bottles out on the oak barrels and one customer came in, picked up a bottle, read the label and then said, ‘That’s made in France. I’m not buying it.’

“I was surprised. Especially since they were 2000 vintage, which was an unusually good year for Bordeaux.”

But he added that many other customers may have been thinking the same thing but did not say it out loud.

“My dealers are noticing the same thing,” Mr Schnut added, “that sales on French wines have been way down the last few weeks. I’ve got 20 different varieties on order and at this rate, when they come in I might just have to send them back.”

Don Gabriel, who owns World of Wine and Spirits of Newtown at Ricky’s Shopping Center, 71 South Main Street, said Tuesday he also had noted that sales of French wines and vodka had fallen off during recent weeks.

“I definitely noticed a slight decline in the wines. Gray Goose Vodka, also from France, is also down.”

Tony Caraluzzi, owner of Taunton Wine and Liquor at 147 Route 6, said he, too, had noticed a decline. He added he could not disagree with those customers who have decided to express their political disapproval in this way.

“We are sensitive to what is going on and do not want to actively promote French wines right now. That’s not to say that things couldn’t change. Over time, we hope the situation will go back to normal,” Mr Caraluzzi said.

At the Big Y Supermarket on Queen Street, pastry manager Dan LaLiberte had a more philosophical view, perhaps reflecting a French heritage suggested by his last name.

“We haven’t seen any decline in the sale of French bread or baguettes. They’re still flying off the shelves. As for me,” he said, presumably speaking about the potential for war, “if it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. And I’d rather be drinking a fine wine while it’s going on.”

He did say he thinks most people understand the distinction between products made in this country in the French style, such as green beans, bread, or even fried potatoes, and the real thing.

“The more expensive products actually imported from France are the ones people will target,” he said, such as wine and cars.