Alcohol consumption in Canada - statistics & facts

The Canadian alcoholic beverages market is in a state of flux, with changing consumer preferences leading to a shift away from beer towards other beverages like spirits, and ready-to-drink (RTD) options. Although beer is still the most popular drink among Canadians, its market share has declined over the years, with sales volumes falling every year since 2008. Beyond the changing preferences in the market, alcohol consumption, as a whole, has decreased. Younger consumers are leading this change, just as they are elsewhere in the world.

Market landscape

Beer is the beverage choice for most Canadian's, accounting for a 35 percent share of the total alcoholic beverages market. Like in other markets though, its importance is diminishing. Its share of the market has slipped 10 percent since 2010. Sales volume of beer declined in 2022 again, as it has for every year since 2008. The wine market, whose share of the alcoholic beverages market has remained largely unchanged during beer's decline, was dominated by red wine, with sales reach 4.28 billion Canadian dollars in 2022. White wine had comparatively low sales of 2.7 billion dollars in the same year. Spirits and RTD alcoholic beverages have grown to fill the void left by beer, now accounting for 26 and 8 percent of the market. Spirits’ share has grown by over 11 percent since 2010 while RTD grew by over 175 percent.

Consumption

Canadians decreased their consumption of alcoholic beverages again in 2022 after a slight increase during 2021. Consumption stood at 97.5 liters per capita. This represents an overall reduction of nine percent since 2008. Gen Z Canadians were the most likely to say they were reducing their alcohol consumption in 2023. Beer, in particular, has fallen drastically in consumption, losing 20 percent since 2010. Wine consumption and spirits consumption both increased in 2022.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Jan Conway, Apr 21, 2023

Key insights

Per capita alcoholic beverage sales in Canada
811.4 CAD
Territory or province with the highest per capita alcohol consumption
Yukon
Per capita alcoholic beverage consumption in Canada
97.5 liters
Get more insights

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Sales volume of alcoholic beverages per capita in Canada from FY 2010 to FY 2021 (in liters)

Alcoholic Beverages

Canadian sales volume of alcoholic beverages per capita FY 2010-FY 2022

Sales volume of alcoholic beverages per capita in Canada in 2021/22, by province (in liters)

Alcoholic Beverages

Canadian per capita sales volume of alcoholic beverages by province 2020/22

Market share of alcoholic beverages in Canada from 2010 to 2021, by beverage category

Alcoholic Beverages

Alcoholic beverages: market share of sales by beverage type in Canada 2010-2021

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Alcoholic beverages worldwide
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Beer market in Canada
Beer market in Canada
Alcohol consumption in the United Kingdom
Alcohol consumption in the United Kingdom
Alcoholic beverages in the United States
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Wine market in Canada
Wine market in Canada
Spirits market in Canada
Spirits market in Canada
Alcoholic beverages market in Belgium
Alcoholic beverages market in Belgium
Alcoholic beverages in Latin America
Alcoholic beverages in Latin America
Alcoholic beverages in Mexico
Alcoholic beverages in Mexico
Alcohol consumption in France
Alcohol consumption in France

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