P.E.I. developing taste for more and better wine
Prince Edward Islanders are drinking more wine, and they are willing to spend more for a better bottle, according to a report this week from Statistics Canada.
The report showed over a five-year period ending in 2015-16, Island consumption of wine was up 12 per cent. Over the same period, spending on wine was up 25 per cent.
Canadians overall showed a similar trend, but not at as high a rate. Consumption was up 7 per cent and spending up 12 per cent.
Beer still beverage of choice
Beer is still the number one drink on the Island, accounting for 47 per cent of sales.
By volume, however, sales of beer was down slightly, while the value of what was sold was up a little.
By volume coolers and ciders showed the biggest growth, up 27 per cent, but that category still represents just four per cent of the value of sales.
Spending up
Islanders spent $593.60 per capita on alcoholic beverages in 2015-16, up 9.5 per cent over 2011-12.
But actual consumption was mostly flat, up just 0.8 per cent in total litres.
The change varied from category to category, with the larger increases in coolers and wine, and spirits and beer both down slightly.
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