BC Liquor Sales Trends

Third quarter stats are now out from BC LDB, and Canadian wines and local Micro Brews continue to show strong growth, particularly in LRS locations. Canadian wines didn’t experience the same strong sales trends in the hospitality sector, however. Commercial beer also continues to take a hit especially on-premise as patrons seem to becoming more adventurous in their tastes.

Wholesale Sales in hL with % Change 2016/17 vs. 2015/16

July – Sept 2016

Beer – Domestic BC Commercial 46,497, -1.8%
Beer – BC Micro Brew: 5,966, 24.9%
Beer – BC Regional: 10,391, +6.9%
Cider – Domestic & Import: 5,905, +2.1%
Coolers – Malt Based: 1,519, -5.5%
Coolers – Spirit: 6,916, +13.7%
Coolers – Wine/Fruit: 182, -17.9%
Gin: 445, +1.2%
Rum: 986, -1.7%
Tequila: 244, +7.4%
Vodka: 2,253, +2.5%
Whisky: 1,731, +10.3%
Wine – Canadian: 112, +44.6%
Wine – USA: 1,840, -2.7%
Wine Total: 19,988, +5.1%

Hospitality Sales in hL with % Change 2016 vs. 2015

July – Sept 2016

Beer – Domestic BC Commercial 7,997,902, -7.5%
Beer – BC Micro Brew: 2,623,082, +18.9%
Beer – BC Regional: 2,589,151, +2.2%
Cider – Domestic & Import: 634,524, 7.4%
Coolers – Malt Based: 46,080, 8.2%
Coolers – Spirit: 235,866, 5.1%
Coolers – Wine/Fruit: 10,338, -2.8%
Gin: 75,230, 11.2%
Rum: 104,408, -3.9%
Tequila: 71,494, 8.3%
Vodka: 272,296, 0.9%
Whisky: 132,368, 4.0%
Wine – Canadian: 13,586, 1.1%
Wine – USA: 198,692, -2.8%
Wine Total: 2,631,706, 4.7%

Source: BC Liquor Distribution Branch