Canadians spending more on booze, especially wine

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Canadians’ spending on booze is up, led by wine.

Statistics Canada has released a report about the year ending March, 2013 and says we spent $21.4 billion on alcoholic beverages, up 2.2 per cent.

Beer still has the biggest part of the market at $9.1 billion, little changed from a year earlier. Wine sales of $6.8 billion, on the other hand, were up 4.9 per cent.

Spirits such as hard liquor were up 2.9 per cent to $5.4 billion, driven by gains in liquers, rum and vodka.

BC’s wine sales rose 4.1 per cent, spirits were up 2.7 per cent and beer was up 0.7 per cent; while total sales were $3.1 billion.

The trend to wine has been growing for years. StatsCan says wine sales rose fourfold over a decade to 17.4 litres per person, or $234, on average.

This woman isn’t picky when it comes to chosing red or white.”Wine, I like the flavour.”

Another man usually sticks to what he likes best.”Red wine, It’s complex there are different varieties. It is just a nice relaxing drink.”

This woman says she doesn’t drink that often, but, “I actually just picked up wine for my husband. He likes to drink it on weekends.”

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