The first year of the COVID-19 pandemic saw a significant increase in alcohol consumption across the province.
According to the analysis of BC’s alcohol sales from the University of Victoria’s Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR), British Columbians drank more alcohol in 2020 than they have in the past 20 years..
The report, which analyzed sales from April 1st 2020 to March 31st 2021, saw overall alcohol consumption equivalent to 547 cans of 5% beer or 104 bottles of 12% wine for each person aged 15+ in the province.
“This tells us the higher levels of consumption seen in the first few months of COVID were not the result of stockpiling, but of an overall increase in drinking sustained over the year,” says Dr. Tim Naimi, director of CISUR.
With service industry restrictions in effect off and on over the past year, bars and restaurants saw a 60% decrease in consumption of alcohol.
Private liquor stores saw an increase in sales, accounting for 55% of all the alcohol sold in the province.
This year’s record is the highest level of alcohol consumption recorded since CISUR started monitoring in 2001 and a rising trend since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It has never been easier to buy alcohol in BC, and we know increased availability of alcohol leads to people drinking more,” said Dr. Naimi.
“COVID-era changes to alcohol policy such as increased hours, government support for liquor retailers to develop online stores, expanded home delivery and declaring liquor stores an essential service have certainly played a role in these increases.”
When comparing health authorities, Interior health had the highest rate of consumption at 13.69L per capita. Island Health had the second highest rate of consumption in the province with 11.5 L per capita.
According to the report, which was supported by Health Canada, beer continues to be the beverage type most consumed in BC.
