Alcohol use in Canada appears to be declining

Statistics Canada reports per capita alcohol sales fell from 8.3 litres of ethanol in 2020–21 to 6.8 litres in 2024–25, an 18% decline, and similar declines have been observed in the United States.

Per capita alcohol sales in Canada have fallen for four straight years, according to Statistics Canada. Sales dropped from 8.3 litres of ethanol per person in 2020–21 to 6.8 litres in 2024–25, an 18 percent decline. Similar declines have been reported in the United States. Researchers say multiple, overlapping factors are likely contributing and that the change has implications for health, government revenues and parts of the alcohol industry. Key figures and observations: - Statistics Canada reports an 18% decline in per capita alcohol sales from 2020–21 to 2024–25 (8.3 to 6.8 litres of ethanol). - Sales data are considered more reliable than self-reported surveys for measuring population consumption. - The United States has shown recent declines in alcohol sales as well, so this is not limited to Canada. - Analysts point to multiple, sometimes overlapping contributors to the trend rather than a single cause. - The article notes potential effects on public health, health-care costs, and alcohol-related industries, and mentions that minimum pricing policies could both reduce consumption and change industry revenues. Summary: Reduced alcohol sales could translate into public health gains and lower alcohol-related costs, while affecting alcohol-related industries and shifting consumer spending to other sectors. The article reports that minimum pricing policies are among the measures discussed as affecting consumption and revenues. Whether the current decline represents a long-term change or a temporary fluctuation is undetermined at this time.