Brewing Up Benefits: The Economic Footprint of Canada’s Beer Economy

Canadians bought nearly 23 million hectolitres of beer in stores during 2016—the equivalent of 214 bottles per person of legal drinking age. This makes it a much more popular drink than wine and spirits. But consuming a Canadian-brewed beer supports many more businesses than just the brewery. When beer activity originates in a province, it supports a supply chain that can reach across the country.

The economic footprint associated with the beer economy includes the consumption of beer in Canada, as well as foreign demand for Canadian-brewed beer. In total, Canada’s beer economy was responsible for $13.8 billion of spending in 2016.