CONCORD, N.H. — After nearly three years, New Hampshire has lifted its ban on Russian-made vodka, originally imposed by Governor Christopher T. Sununu in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. This significant policy change came right before Sununu exited office, as he rescinded 145 executive orders on December 20, 2024, paving the way for his successor, Kelly A. Ayotte.

In an interview with The Boston Globe, Sununu explained his initial decision to remove Russian-made products from the New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlet shelves was aimed at raising awareness about the ongoing conflict. He noted, “The point was made. … We got a national story out of it,” affirming that the ban succeeded in drawing attention to the war’s significance.

Initially, the ban included notable brands like Stolichnaya vodka, which rebranded as Stoli, and later returned to the shelves after demonstrating a shift away from Russian ownership. Other brands affected by the ban included Hammer & Sickle, Russian Standard, and Kutskova, which are currently not available in the state’s liquor outlets.

With Sununu’s departure, the New Hampshire Liquor Commission is reassessing its remaining stock of Russian products and will determine how to proceed. Sununu, comparing his role to that of a CEO, considered it unnecessary to leave the ban in place for his successor to navigate, stating, “We got the ball rolling in the right way, and we’ll let the folks that are running that business make that decision going forward.”

The repeal of the Russian vodka ban aligns with Sununu’s broader strategy of rescinding various executive orders, some of which have raised questions regarding Ayotte’s stance on issues like diversity and police accountability.