Canada: Draught beer sales dropped 14% in October across Canada, especially in Nova Scotia, Ontario and in New Brunswick. Industry analysts are blaming everything from the NHL lockout to smoking bans and labour disputes. "It varies dramatically, there are lots of factors," said Greg D'avignon, vice-president of the Brewers Association of Canada. "In British Columbia there was a strike among distributors, weather played a big factor across the Prairies, and significant tax increases in some provinces impacted sales," he said.

According to the Brewers Association, as of Oct. 31, draught beer sales were down 3.9% for the year, while total packaged beer sales were down .9%. Total beer volumes for the year are down 1.2%. In Manitoba, overall beer consumption is down slightly but remains relatively, uh, flat. It's where people are drinking that is changing.

"The beverage room has had a definite decline ever since the smoking ban," said Scott Friesen, manager of the Green Brier Inn. But while bar sales at the hotel are showing a marked drop, beer store sales of premium and budget beers are increasing, suggesting more people are drinking at home or with friends. "That is definitely the trend," Friesen said.

With no hockey and no smoking, customers have fewer reasons to go out for a beer, said Classic Cafe and Billiards manager Mario Pereira. "A lot of our clientele are beer drinkers because we are a pool hall," Pereira said. "If you have one less thing to offer you have less traffic. It's pretty simple."

12 December, 2004