Statistics Canada reports fewer Canadians are drinking alcohol

Statistics Canada is reporting that fewer Canadians are drinking alcohol, as sales at Canadian liqour stores reported a drop of 1.6 per cent since last year.

The National Statistical Office says the decrease in sales happened despite a 1.6 per cent increase in the price of alcoholic beverages in stores from March 2024 to March 2025.

The office says it is the fourth consecutive year where volume sales have declined, with Canadians of legal drinking age buying the equivalent of around 8 standard alcoholic drinks per week, down from 8.7 drinks the previous year.

Spirits, beer and imported wine sales saw a decline, but ciders and coolers was the sole beverage category reported to have grown.

Statistics Canada says sales of ciders and coolers rose 4.8 per cent from last year overall.

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Rod Phillips, a Carleton University professor who specializes in the history of alcohol, said Canada isn’t the only country seeing this trend.

He said it is the case throughout North America, and notes Europe and other places have seen alcohol consumption declining the last five to ten years.

The statistical office says Canada imported $1 billion worth of alcoholic beverages from the United States — down 5.4 per cent from last year. Meanwhile, exports to the U.S. went up 4.1 per cent year over year, totalling $1.4 billion.

There are several reasons for the decline, including costs, health warnings and an increase in the use of cannabis.

The office says inhaled extracts was the fastest growing recreational cannabis category for 2024-2025, up 12.8 per cent.

With Files from The Canadian Press.

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