You say it isn’t ‘work or die,’ but your argument states that if someone’s labor isn’t valuable enough in the market, then they won’t earn enough to live.
That is work or die — just described using economic vocabulary.
phil777 is pointing to the moral problem of tying survival to market value...
But that's a very strict and arguably over-literal application of Kant's deontology.
Kant wasn’t saying “don’t enjoy things or self-improve if it benefits you.”
He meant:
Don’t instrumentalize people.
Don’t violate someone’s dignity.
Don’t treat yourself like disposable property.
Drinking...
I suppose those at the shelves are his current stock.
He wouldn't want the display be empty immediately without anything to restock it with considering the recent diplomatic relations.