Alcohol consumption in BC
In the most recent year of our BC Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Monitoring Project data (2021/22), BC recorded a decrease of 0.18L in age 15+ per capita ethanol consumption, down to 9.1L from 9.28L. The current total averages out to 534 standard drinks (SDs) per person over the age of 15 per year, including non-drinkers.
While this year marks a decrease to 2019/20 levels of consumption (9.11L) after a record high year in 2020/2021, consumption levels in BC based on AOD monitoring remain well above the Canadian average of 475 SDs per capita.
Nationally, after a small increase in 2020/21 consumption levels, Statistics Canada also reported a national decrease from 8.3L in 2020/21 (or 487 SDs) to 8.1L (475 SDs) in 2021/22. Statistics Canada’s BC consumption numbers went from 9L in 2020/21 (528 SDs) to 8.9L in 2021/22 (522 SDs).
Our BC AOD Monitoring Project estimates show similar trends, but are able to provide more accurate data than Statistics Canada for a number of reasons:
- U-Brew and U-Vin sales (i.e., home-produced alcohol) are included in the per capita consumption estimates
- More accurate estimates of the ethanol strength of typical alcoholic beverages is used
- More up-to-date population estimates from BC Statistics are used
Read more about our methodology.
You can view and download interactive maps and data tables of alcohol consumption in BC (2002-2020, broken down by Health Authority, Health Service Delivery Area and Local Health Area, as well as venue and beverage type) via our AOD Trend Analyzer Tool.
Monthly consumption patterns
When we look at monthly consumption data by beverage type for 2021, some interesting trends appear. Summer months are most popular for beer and coolers, while spirits increase in December to actually become the most popular beverage consumed that month—the only month of the year another beverage type surpasses beer. Wine consumption remains mostly steady throughout the year.
When looking at monthly consumption data by venue, private liquor stores are consistently at the top. However in December, government liquor stores do see a large increase. Restaurants and bars also see a small increase in the summer months.
Average alcohol prices over time
When looking at average retail prices of alcoholic beverages in BC over time, the trend appears to be going slightly upwards. However, these are nominal prices, meaning they are not adjusted for inflation.
By contrast, when we adjust these prices for inflation, we see that the “real prices” are declining.
Consumption by venue and venue density
Private liquor stores continue to be the most popular venue for British Columbians to buy alcohol in 2021/22, with 276 standard drinks (SDs) per capita (4.7L) purchased at private stores. This is a decrease from the all-time high of 299 SDs (5.09L) in 2020/21, but is still the second-highest number on record, well above pre-COVID numbers. Over 50% of all alcohol sold in BC is purchased at a private liquor store. Government liquor stores saw a small decline in 2021/22, down to 185 SDs (3.16L) from 192 SDs (3.27L) in 2020/21. The 2021/22 sales are slightly below pre-COVID numbers.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, BC loosened regulations and expanded services offered by off-premise alcohol outlets, particularly private liquor stores, including increased hours of operation, ramping up of home delivery options, and provincial funding for businesses to develop better online ordering options. Our previous BC research shows how private liquor stores contribute to increased consumption and harm.
Annual per capita consumption in 2021/22 was 30 SDs (0.51Ls) in restaurants and 25 SDs (0.43L) in bars. This is an increase from historic lows in 2020/21 (likely due to pandemic-related closures and capacity limits enacted at various times during that period) but still not a return to pre-COVID levels. Overall, only about one in every 10 SDs consumed in BC is at an on-premise establishment like a restaurant or bar.
Outlet density
The number of on premise outlets (restaurants and bars) per capita has rebounded slightly after a large dip in 2020/21, likely due to COVID-related closures. However, they still have not returned to pre-COVID levels and bars have dipped below private liquor stores in terms of per capita outlet density for the second year in a row.
When looking at the relationship between per capita outlet density and consumption, we see that off-premise liquor stores have a much lower density than restaurants and bars, but represent a much larger sale of the alcohol consumed in BC.
Consumption by beverage type
- Want to know how many standard drinks are in an alcohol container? Try our drink calculator.
When we look at consumption by beverage type, beer continues to be the beverage of choice at 182 standard drinks (SDs) per capita (3.1L ethanol), although its share continues to fall, which is part of a long-term trend. Spirits and wine are almost identical at 147 SDs (2.51L) and 143 SDs (2.43L) respectively in 2021/22, although spirits saw a small increase and wine a small decrease since 2020/21. Coolers continue to grow in popularity, but are still less than half the share of either wine or spirits (62 SDs, or 1.05L).
Consumption by region
Interior Health continues to have the highest levels of per-capita consumption in BC, with 786 standard drinks (SDs) per person aged 15+ (or 13.41L of ethanol), followed by Vancouver Island at 676 SDs (11.52L). Northern is at 672 SDs (10.6L), while Vancouver Coastal and Fraser were lowest, at 457 SDs (7.79L) and 398 SDs (6.78L) respectively. Interior Health consumes almost twice as much alcohol per capita as Fraser Health.
For detailed interactive maps and historical consumption data, please visit our AOD Trend Analyzer tool.
As in the Health Authorities, there is a wide range of consumption rates across different Health Service Delivery Areas (HSDAs) in BC. The two HSDAs with the highest consumption rates in BC are both in Interior Health: East Kootenay at 825 standard drinks (SDs), or 14.07L of ethanol, and Okanagan at 818 SDs (13.95L). The HSDA with the lowest per capita consumption was Richmond with 248 SDs (4.22L) and Fraser North at 352 SDs (6L). Interestingly while Richmond was the HSDA with the lowest per capita consumption, it was one of the few that saw a small increase over 2020/21 (most other HSDAs went down slightly, reflecting the province-wide trend).
For detailed interactive maps and historical consumption data, please visit our AOD Trend Analyzer tool.
Interior Health
South Okanagan is the Local Health Area (LHA) with the highest rate of per-capita sales in Interior Health for 2021/22: 1,501 standard drinks (SD) per person aged 15+, or 25.6L of ethanol. This is nearly three times the provincial average. Windermere is the second-highest in both BC and Okanagan Health at 1,395 SDs (23.79L). The LHA with the lowest rate was Armstrong/Spallumcheen at 503 SDs (8.57L) and the only LHA in Interior Health below the BC average of 534 SDs (9.19L).
Consumption at the LHA level may not be as accurate as at the HSDA or HA level, as estimates are based on the sales data that might be largely affected by tourists, liquor store locations and other factors. The estimates thus may not reflect real consumption, particularly in LHAs with small population sizes.
For detailed interactive maps and historical consumption data, please visit our AOD Trend Analyzer tool.
Fraser Health
Hope had the highest per capita sales rate for any Local Health Area (LHA) in Fraser Health in 2021/22, at 946 standard drinks (SDs) per person aged 15+ (16.13L of ethanol). Surrey has the lowest per-capita sales rate at 250 SDs (4.27L).
Consumption at the LHA level may not be as accurate as at the HSDA or HA level, as estimates are based on the sales data that might be largely affected by tourists, liquor store locations and other factors. The estimates thus may not reflect real consumption, particularly in LHAs with small population sizes.
For detailed interactive maps and historical consumption data, please visit our AOD Trend Analyzer tool.
Vancouver Coastal Health
The Local Health Area (LHA) in Vancouver Coastal Health with the highest per-capita alcohol sales in 2021/22 was Howe Sound at 1,021 standard drinks (SDs) per person aged 15+, or 17.41L of ethanol. The LHA with the lowest rate in both Vancouver Coastal and the province was Vancouver-South at 243 SDs (4.14L).
Consumption at the LHA level may not be as accurate as at the HSDA or HA level, as estimates are based on the sales data that might be largely affected by tourists, liquor store locations and other factors. The estimates thus may not reflect real consumption, particularly in LHAs with small population sizes.
For detailed interactive maps and historical consumption data, please visit our AOD Trend Analyzer tool.
Island Health
Cowichan Valley West was the Local Health Area (LHA) in Vancouver Island Health with the highest rate of alcohol sales in 2021/22 at 1,116 standard drinks (SDs) per person aged 15+, or 19.03L of ethanol. Cowichan Valley North had the lowest sales rate at 499 SDs (8.5L).
Consumption at the LHA level may not be as accurate as at the HSDA or HA level, as estimates are based on the sales data that might be largely affected by tourists, liquor store locations and other factors. The estimates thus may not reflect real consumption, particularly in LHAs with small population sizes.
For detailed interactive maps and historical consumption data, please visit our AOD Trend Analyzer tool.
Northern Health
Snow Country was the Local Health Area (LHA) in Northern Health with the highest rate of per-capita alcohol sales in 2021/22 at 1,601 standard drinks (SDs) per person aged 15+ (or 27.3L of ethanol). This is three times the BC average of 534 SDs (9.19L), making it the highest rate of per-capita sales of any LHA in BC. However, it is located in between Nisga’a and Telegraph Creek, two LHAs that reported 0L of alcohol sales. The LHA with the lowest per-capita sales rate was Prince George at 542 SDs (9.24L), which was still above the BC average of 534 SDs (9.19L).
Consumption at the LHA level may not be as accurate as at the HSDA or HA level, as estimates are based on the sales data that might be largely affected by tourists, liquor store locations and other factors. The estimates thus may not reflect real consumption, particularly in LHAs with small population sizes.
For detailed interactive maps and historical consumption data, please visit our AOD Trend Analyzer tool.
Alcohol consumption in BC in early COVID months
We estimated per capita alcohol consumption using alcohol sales data from the British Columbia (BC) provided by the British Columbia Liquor Distribution Branch (BCLDB) and the population data projected by BC Stats during the period from January to December 2012-2019 and January to July 2020.
Estimates were made of the monthly number of standard drinks (SD=17.05 mL or 13.45 g of pure alcohol) consumed per adult aged 15 years or older in total, by type of outlets (restaurant, bar, government liquor store and private liquor store) and type of alcoholic beverages (beer, cooler, spirit and wine) during the period from January to December 2012-2019 and January to July 2020. Given that the sales data here represents when the BCLDB sold wholesale products to outlets and not when someone purchased the product at a licensed establishment or liquor store, there is a delay between the sale to the outlet and the purchase by the individual consumer.
The above chart shows estimates of per capita monthly standard drinks of total alcohol consumption during the pandemic period from January to July 2020, January to December 2019 and average of per capita monthly standard drinks in 2012-2019. There have been seasonal changes in alcohol consumption in BC over years, with lowest consumption in January and February of every year, with peaks over the summer and in December. However, consumption during the pandemic in 2020 tended to have a different pattern. There was a marked increase in March, a slight decrease in April and gradually increased since May. This suggests an effect related to the pandemic and related restrictions declared by the provincial and federal governments. Further research is needed.
In July 2020, the most recent month for which we have sales data, alcohol consumption peaked at about 50 standard drinks per month for every person aged 15+ in BC, which is almost two drinks a day. According to the 2017 Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drug Survey, the current male and female drinkers accounted for 77.29% and 73.34% of population aged 15. Adding unrecorded alcohol consumption such as home-made to the estimates would further increase average consumption. Monthly alcohol consumption in BC in the first half of 2020 was mostly higher compared with previous years.
Consumption by BC Restart Phase
This figure shows per capita weekly 2020 consumption compared to that of 2019, with various Phases of BC’s Restart Plan marked. As we can see, the largest increase in consumption (over 40 percent) was immediately after Phase 1 in March (the first major lockdown) was announced, although it was also the phase with two weeks of the lowest consumption drops, likely due to stockpiling early on in the phase. However, overall consumption in this phase remained above 2019 levels, with slight dips in Phase 2 and the beginning of Phase 3, with consumption starting to go above 2019 levels by July.
Deseasonalized monthly consumption
This chart and all following figures all present ‘de-seasonalised’ data to see how monthly alcohol consumption compares with the levels typically seen previously for that time of year. This figure shows a peak of increased consumption during the lockdown in March 2020, followed by levels that were mostly equal to or higher than in 2019.
Consumption by venue
This figure presents the estimates of per capita monthly standard drinks by establishments (restaurant, bar, government liquor stores and private liquor stores) in January-July of 2020 and all of 2019. After removing the seasonality, we see that private liquor stores had the largest sales increase over 2019, with government stores seeing a small increase after a March bump. Sales at bars and restaurants declined during COVID-19, which is unsurprising given the closure of many on-premise venues at the beginning of the lockdown.
As lockdown measures were relaxed, in-person dining was allowed to resume and restaurants were allowed to sell take-away alcohol with food orders, restaurants and bars did see some sale increases over the summer, but only to about half of what they were during the same period in 2019. While both private and government liquor stores saw a large increase in sales at the beginning of the lockdown in March, the greatest increase in alcohol sales occurred for private liquor stores.
Private stores saw their sales peak in April (government stores saw their peak in March, which may be because data for government sales is point-of-sale, as opposed to when venues purchasing from the government wholesaler) and have remained well above their average for the same time period in 2019. This may be due to the fact that private stores have expanded services such as home deliveries, many of which require minimum order thresholds which could encourage bulk buying. Private stores were also permitted to change their operating hours from 7am-11pm, although it is unclear if many outlets have taken advantage of this. Alcohol delivery from liquor stores has also been increasingly available on food-delivery apps, but not for government liquor stores. Further research is needed.
Consumption by beverage type
This chart presents the estimates of per capita monthly standard drinks by types of alcoholic beverages (beer, cooler, spirit and wine) in January-July of 2020 and for all of 2019. Compared to monthly 2019 data, spirits and coolers showed the most consistent increase in sales, with wine and spirits experiencing a noticeable bump in March 2020 when lockdown orders came into effect (wine sales have varied slightly compared to the same monthly periods in 2019, but are seeing stronger sales overall). Beer sales have declined compared to 2019 since the COVID-19 pandemic hit.