Canadians are cutting back on alcohol purchases, a new report from Statistics Canada suggests, as sales data shows a boost in another substance’s sales.
Recreational cannabis sales by provincial authorities increased by 15.8 per cent year-over-year. Canadians spent a total of $4.7 billion in the 2022 to 2023 fiscal year, according to Statistics Canada, which is a $0.6 billion jump from the previous year.
A Statistics Canada breakdown says that works out to every Canadian of legal age spending $150 per year on the products, a number that has been steadily increasing since recreational cannabis was legalized in 2018.
Meanwhile, the volume of alcohol sales has declined for the second consecutive year. According to Statistics Canada, alcohol sales based on volume fell by 1.1 per cent, or 3,106 million litres, in 2022/2023.
“On average, Canadians of legal drinking age consumed 9.2 standard alcoholic beverages per week, down from 9.5 the previous year,” Statistics Canada’s report says.
Beer sales in particular are at an all-time low since tracking began in 1949, the report states, falling to an average of 3.6 standard bottles a week, per person of legal age, in 2022/2023. However, revenue from beer increased for the first time in four years, by 4.1 per cent.
While Canadians appear to be purchasing less alcohol overall, spending has gone up. Revenue from alcohol sales went up 2.8 per cent between the 2021/2022 fiscal year and 2022/2023, according to the data. Liquor authorities and other retail outlets sold $26.3 billion of alcohol beverages in that time.
Because Canadians appear to be buying less alcohol, StatCan says the rise in revenue can be explained by inflation.
“The increase in alcohol sales was driven by increased prices,” it says.
POUR LIRE LA SUITE: Global News
