Article content Canada is experiencing a notable shift in its alcohol consumption patterns. The Société des alcools du Québec is the latest liquor authority to report a consecutive decline in alcohol sales by volume, a trend that mirrors what is happening across the nation. In the most recent fiscal year, alcohol sales by volume have dropped in all provinces, signalling a significant change in Canadian drinking habits.
According to the data, Quebec’s sales dropped by 2.5 per cent and Ontario’s by 2.0, while Alberta saw a steep 15-per-cent decline, based on estimates and liquor board reports.
Nova Scotia (-4.2 per cent), Manitoba (-6.7 per cent) and British Columbia (-4.
9 per cent) have also reported substantial drops. Despite these volume declines, many liquor boards have managed to maintain or increase revenues through price hikes. However, the downward trend in consumption is undeniable.
Inflation and the broader cost-of-living crisis are likely the primary drivers. As household budgets tighten, consumers are forced to prioritize essential expenses like food and shelter, leaving alcohol purchases as one of the first discretionary items to be cut. Compounding this, federal and provincial taxes on alcohol have increased, making these products less affordable for many Canadians.
Another contributing factor is Canada’s evolving demographic landscape. With increasing immigration, many new Canadians come from cultures where alcohol consumption is moderate or avoided a.
