Canadians are back drinking again
Back when the recession was going on, no one could get a grasp on alcohol sales.
The conventional wisdom went: the economy’s tanking, so we’re getting tanked. And, indeed, that was the reality during much of the downturn.
But then, the thinking shifted. Not only did we not have jobs, Canadians couldn’t even afford to drink, and alcohol sales began to sink. What the heck was going on?
In any case, as much of the economy’s uncertainty has eased, so has our relationship with booze. Canadians, we’re back drinking again.
According to the latest Stats Canada numbers, beer and liquor sales rose in the fiscal year ending Mar. 31, 2010, a spike of 2.8 per cent from the previous year. That’s $19.9 billion worth of booze Canadians downed as the recession began to repair.
Also worth noting is the return of Canadians sipping their favourite imported beers. While some consumers may have been spooked off splurging for the expensive stuff, Canucks returned to pricey imports in droves last year, sending the volume of imported beer sales up 7.8 per cent.
Ontarians are still the biggest alcohol buyers in the country, according to Stats Canada; their $1.9 billion in booze purchases last year was up 0.9 per cent from 2009.
But when it comes to the alcohol rebound – the percentage uptick from 2009 to 2010 when times got better – many other provinces and territories swatted Ontario to the side rushing back to liquor stores.
Quebec and Newfound and Labrador alcohol sales increased 6.3 per cent from 2009 to 2010, P.E.I.’s jumped 6.6 per cent, Yukon rose 9.2 per cent and Nunavut won the national race. Alcohol sales spiked a whopping 10.2 per cent in the territory year-over-year, according to Stats Canada.
Are you drinking more, less or the same since the recession ended?
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
*Follow Jason on Twitter here.
Posted by: don | Apr 20, 2021 3:47:20 PM
I for one, have not seen the recession end. No benefit here. No raise in wages in 3 years and prices that just keep going up. Dont drink and would support a large tax increase on alcohol sales.
Posted by: Bernadette | Apr 20, 2021 4:06:53 PM
I, too, have seen no sign of the recession ending. I have 4 university degrees, three of them at the master's level, and have not been able to find a job since completing my third master's degree in 2007.
Given that I am living by gradually cashing in my increasingly dwindling retirement savings, wine was one of the first things to be cut from the budget - I only pay for necessities (which is why, after 4 years of unemployment, I still have a bit of retirement savings left!)
Posted by: Chip | Apr 20, 2021 9:10:22 PM
Dang Bernadette... any additional personal information you wish to impart on everyone ? Should we be overwhelmingly impressed or just take pity on you ? Since you've been unemployed for 4 years, in spite of all the intellegencia you've acquired , masters degrees up the yahoo you've gathered, charitable work with your church picking up all those little hotel shampoo bottles and soaps during your travels and work in over a dozen countries... you'd think prospective employers would be tripping over each other to bring the superlative Bernie on board. What ever happened to ALL those jobs you had that enabled you to travel to so many countries or were you an over-educated airline attendant ? or are you one of those career students who gather up useless degrees and don't know what to do with 'em. Or maybe you're one of those holier-than-thou self proclaimes preachers of all that's supposed to be good in the world. You must be a real treat at parties !! Geez, the way things are going for you, you may need to keep those little soaps and shamppos for yourself.
Posted by: Guy | Apr 21, 2021 8:23:59 AM
To Bernadette: Over educated + no experience = unemployed. Did they teach you that while getting any of those degrees?
Posted by: clettt | Apr 22, 2021 4:20:24 PM
Or: Four degrees = overqualified.
Posted by: Phil co | Apr 22, 2021 4:45:05 PM
Oh, maybe you should tax pot so you can monitor it's consumption since drinking is passe.
Posted by: Skewers grill. | Apr 22, 2021 5:00:23 PM
I owen a restaurant the sales is dawn because of the hst and the new driving law the tax took the
bisinesssale to the liquer stors we usde to make comision that was gone to.so all the sale in pubs an
d restaurant went dawn with the profit and went to the liquer stors. explain this.
Posted by: James | Apr 22, 2021 5:17:57 PM
Well you guys, Chip, Guy, Clett and Phil can you try and be sensitive and look at the word "empathy" in the dictionary, I suppose you might have been lucky and under qualified in a good job and don't understand what does it mean to be unemployed like Bernadette. I am disappointed, perhaps you should put on your encouraging hat on, perhaps Bernadette should be a good example in how to cut your cloth accordingly and know that alcohol drinking gets a low priority when you are unemployed and struggling.
Posted by: max | Apr 22, 2021 5:26:36 PM
Ya I agree that perhaps a little too overqaulified. Plus it's not cheap going to school for decades. and most people that have any degree from university consider themselves too good to work for maybe $10 an hour at say McDonlad's. Hey money is money and if it pays the bills who cares how it gets there. Walmart is usually hiring as well. I realize not everyone gets a break but that's because breaks don't just happen to you, you make them. I've seen to many people I know that have good jobs, get let go and say well i'm not working for less than $X an hour. Tell the repossesor that when he takes your house, I'm sure he will understand.
Posted by: Mike | Apr 22, 2021 5:35:11 PM
First off the Recession hasn't ended, we are going into a downward spiraling depression. Yes i said it! Since when do people think the economy is getting better? It's not.
I don't drink, I never have because I witnessed the implications when I was growing up as a child.
But by all means, please don't say the recession has ended!
Posted by: James | Apr 22, 2021 5:50:21 PM
Now lets talk about the recession, No is not over and soon when the interest rates go up we have double recession if not depression. It amazes me that Canadian can’t admit that we are in a big mess. Average $100,000 debt per family, we still spend $1.48 for every $1.00 income. Are we fooling ourselves? Are we drowning our apprehension in drinking? I just hope and pray we wake up soon before is too late, before destroying our lives and all the people who we are responsible for and around us.
Posted by: Chip | Apr 22, 2021 6:53:12 PM
@James... I have absolutely NO empathy or sympathy for anyone with 4 degrees (3 masters) who's been unemployed for 4 years. Let's get real here. Many homebodies can get online degrees in subject areas that have little use and virtually no work related prospects... social studies, sports management being a two that come to mind. Maybe Bernadette needs to learn how to approach job opportunities or interviews with a little humility, instead of parading herself off as Super-Employee and asking for 6 figures, a expense account and a company car. Anyone with a modicum of knowledge knows that a resume is not a one-size-fits-all document. You format (upgrade/downgrade) your resume for the type of job you're applying for. There's also a thing called "paying your dues"... and starting at the bottom of the ladder. Methinks Bernie's britches are too big for that.
Posted by: Chip | Apr 22, 2021 7:03:10 PM
@skewers grill... I would certainly try to explain "this" to you... if I could figure out what the H you wrote. Hope you're not the one who wrote up the business plan for your restaurant when you brought it to the bank for financing. Guess you're trying to say that the smoking ban and the don't drink and drive laws have reduced alcohol consumption in your "restaurant". Geez... that must really suck not having a bunch of smoked out, nicotine stained drunks lurching out of your resto and jumping into their cars every night. Maybe you can compensate by serving better food. Also heard they have a TV show called Restaurant Makeover... give 'em a call.
Posted by: Mick O'Keeffe | Apr 22, 2021 7:04:52 PM
I never read other peoples nonsense for fear it might cloud my already righteously imbued mind.
Booze in Canada is and always has been taxed up to and beyond those parts in the body that hurt when kicked and we don't need any tee-totalling schnauser encouraging revenue grabbing provincial governments to jack up the prices even more than they are right now. If I suggested that banks or big biz types start paying their fair share in taxes I'd be called a commie. Should I have the audacity to even mention that our pals from accross the pacific be made to pay a non-resident type of tax on their properties here I'd be tainted as a rabid and uncontrolled xenophobe.
So I'll close with this thought only : when europeans come to Vancouver and see that they are being expected to pay in a restaurant 40 bucks for a bottle of wine that they know is worth barely a buck 50 they go into severe sticker shock. Even the french who have no problem getting tourists to pay 50 bucks for a few hours of butt time on a lousy dirty bit of sand on the edge of a turde infested piece of water known as the Meditteranean are outraged Mon Dieu. There are plenty of things wrong in this country and way too many people making out like bandits in Canada who only know how to take and never how to give a little back. Start fixing all that first, then come after the boozers. In the meantime. Waiter, another large port and brandy.Thank you.
Posted by: Mick O'Keeffe | Apr 22, 2021 7:09:41 PM
I did just read the comment by Skewers Grill.
Looking at the number of spelling errors contained therein I think you may have been draining off some of the profits by checking the product too often.
Keep away from that bacon slicer.
Posted by: Alix | Apr 22, 2021 7:18:20 PM
Wow interesting comments. To Bernadette- there must be another underlying problem with you despite 4 degrees, still no job. Wrong area you live in? Try Calgary.... two feet and a heartbeat, and you have a job. Or, try the Trades. People who get their hands dirty get well paying jobs. CP Rail needs 1500 workers this year alone!! Saw that on Global TV. As for our vices, I quit cigarettes when they were $3.75 a pack, 14 years ago. Talk about overtaxed poison, cigarettes are digusting. But booze... in measured quantities it does a body good. Hats off to Canadians. My mama always said, "Stupidity eats, and intelligence drinks."
Posted by: Ron Joseph | Apr 22, 2021 7:28:41 PM
get a wine kit and make your own, bingo, cost of sipping goes way down
Posted by: Mike | Apr 22, 2021 7:45:30 PM
Bernadette I know what it is like I too have several Masters degrees (Science and Business) and 20 years experience and have always found the Canadian market kind of a poor place to be (even in good times). Although Canada has a great education system there is very little opportunity once you come out the end of the pipeline. You should look in the US there are always great opportunities there because of the size of the market. I wish you luck!
Posted by: binder dundat | Apr 22, 2021 8:41:01 PM
chip - stop whining like a little girl, she has 4 degrees and no job..whats your beef? get drunk and laid and you'll be alright. Complaining like a girly man is not attractive even to a hooker, grow a set.
Posted by: Tommy | Apr 22, 2021 8:45:41 PM
What are your 4 University degrees in? Something doesn't quite jive here, maybe you need to re-educate yourself in a trade or get a higher degree ie. law or medicine!