The import factor

According to Statistics Canada, sales of domestic beer brands have fallen for five years now as imports rose by 9.7% to C$462.3 million. In 1998/1999 Canadians consumed 21 million hl of beer, up 2.0% on the previous year, increasing sales by 4.8% to C$6.5 billion. Over the same five-year period, domestic premium beers have dropped to 93% of the market from 96%, feeling the pressure from both imported brands and discount brands. The second largest volume seller among alcoholic beverages was wine at 272.5 million litres in 1998/1999; sales of spirits-based coolers increased by 7.2% to 148 million litres on a year-on-year basis.