Nunavut spends more on alcohol than ever before

People in Nunavut are drinking more than before, says a new Statistics Canada report.

During this past fiscal year Nunavut saw the biggest jump in alcohol sales net income of any jurisdiction in Canada, Statistics Canada said last week.

Alcohol-related revenue to Nunavut, such as taxes, liquor licenses and permits, rose by 10.2 per cent, to $2,028,000, at end of March 2010.

Sales of alcohol beverages were also up by 10.2 per cent, to $5,921,000, a rate of increase topped only by Newfoundland and Labrador.

Beer remained the alcoholic drink of choice for Canadians.

On a per-capita basis, for which Statistics Canada considered Canadians aged 15 and over, total beer sales added up to 83.6 litres per person.
Beer remains the most popular drink in Nunavut, although spirits like vodka follow close behind.

Per capita, every adult in Nunavut spent $945 in 2010 on beer, wine and spirits — that’s just to purchase legally-acquired alcohol, according to the numbers considered by Statistics Canada.