Alcohol Sales in Canada, April 2020 to March 2021

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Release date: February 15, 2022
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Infographic: Alcohol Sales in Canada, April 2020 to March 2021
Description: Alcohol Sales in Canada, April 2020 to March 2021

How Health Canada defines “standard drink”:

Beer = 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
Ciders/coolers = 341 ml (12 oz.)  5% alcohol content



Number of standard alcoholic drinks sold per week, per person of legal drinking age
Table summary
This table displays the results of Number of standard alcoholic drinks sold per week Standard alcoholic drinks sold per week (appearing as column headers).
Standard drinks
Beer 3.9
Spirits 2.6
Wine 2.5
Ciders and coolers 0.7
Total standard drinks 9.7

Ciders and coolers saw their market share increase the most over the past decade, rising from 2.9% of total alcohol sales in 2010/2011 to 7.2% in 2020/2021.

In the past 10 years, the volume of gin sales grew by 81.8%, driven mainly by Quebec and Ontario.



Demand for imported spirits has risen in recent years.
Table summary
This table displays the results of Demand for imported spirits has risen in recent years. 2010/2011 and 2020/2021, calculated using Canadian , Imported and Imported units of measure (appearing as column headers).
2010/2011 2020/2021
Canadian Imported Canadian Imported
Spirits 57% 43% 46% 54%
Ciders and coolers 77% 23% 86% 14%
Wine 30% 70% 32% 68%
Beer 84% 16% 85% 15%

Average alcohol sales in Canada were $837 per person of legal drinking age, a 2.9% increase from the previous year.



By province and territory
Table summary
This table displays the results of By province and territory Average sales per person (appearing as column headers).
Average sales per person
N.L. $1,123
P.E.I. $674
N.S. $881
N.B. $794
Que. $835
Ont. $817
Man. $820
Sask. $775
Alta. $808
B.C. $902
Y.T. $1,251
N.W.T. $1,795
Nvt. $716

Between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021, governments earnedNote 1 an average of $442 per person of legal drinking age from the control and sale of alcoholic beverages.

Source: Control and Sale of Alcoholic Beverages in Canada, April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021.

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Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2022

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

Catalogue no. 11-627-M

Frequency: Occasional

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