Alcohol Sales in Canada

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Release date: May 10, 2018
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Infographic: Alcohol Sales in Canada
Description: Alcohol Sales in Canada

As per the guidelines, 'a drink' meansFootnote 1:

  • Beer = 341 ml (12 oz.)
    5% alcohol content.
  • Cider/Cooler = 341 ml (12 oz.)
    5% alcohol content
  • Wine = 142 ml (5 oz.)
    12% alcohol content
  • Spirits (whisky, gin, rum, etc.) = 43 ml (1.5 oz.)
    40% alcohol content

Number of standard alcoholic drinks sold per week, per person (over the legal drinking ageFootnote 2)

  • Beer: 4.2
  • Wine: 2.5
  • Spirits: 2.4
  • Cider / Coolers: 0.4
  • Total Standard Drinks: 9.6
Canadian vs import sales
  Canadian Import
Beer 85% 15%
Wine 40% 60%
Spirits 57% 43%
Cider and Coolers 69% 31%

While most Canadians choose to buy beer, there are regional differences.

  • Beer is the most popular alcoholic beverage across Canada. In British Columbia and Quebec, they prefer wine.
  • Red is the most popular wine across Canada, but Prince Edward Island buys more white wine.
  • Over 70% of cider sales are in British Columbia and in Ontario.
  • In Newfoundland and Labrador, almost 50% of spirit sales are rum.

Average sales of alcohol in Canada were $755 per person (over the legal drinking ageFootnote 2)

Average sales of alcohol in Canada By province and territory
Region Average sales of alcohol per person
N.L. $1,056
P.E.I. $630
N.B. $676
N.S. $789
Que. $782
Ont. $741
Man. $754
Sask. $730
Alta. $768
B.C. $864
Y.T. $1,261
N.W.T. $1,604
Nvt. $231

Governments earned an average of $411 per person over the legal drinking age from the control and sale of alcoholic beverages.

Source: Control and Sale of Alcoholic Beverages in Canada 2016-2017 survey

Data reflected in this infographic from April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017.

Footnotes

Footnote 1

Health Canada Guidelines

Return to footnote 1 referrer

Footnote 2

Legal drinking age (19+ for all provinces and territories except for Alta., Man., and Que., which is 18+).

Return to first footnote 2 referrer

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Copyright

Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2018

Use of this publication is governed by the Statistics Canada Open Licence Agreement.

Catalogue no. 11-627-M

Frequency: Occasional

Ottawa

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