As alcohol consumption declines, a St. Patrick's Day with fewer raised glasses
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The usual sight of green-clad revellers celebrating St. Patrick's Day is expected across Canada on Sunday - but compared with a decade ago, fewer of them will be indulging in alcohol.
The usual sight of green-clad revellers celebrating St. Patrick's Day is expected across Canada on Sunday - but compared with a decade ago, fewer of them will be indulging in alcohol.
Restaurants and pubs should be ready to serve mocktails and buzz-free Guinness to the holiday revellers, experts say.
“In these economic times, alcohol can be expensive to buy when you're in a restaurant, and people are cutting back,” said Vince Sgabellone, food service industry analyst at Circana. “Instead of having an alcoholic beverage, they may have a soft drink or cut out altogether and just have tap water when they go out.”
People in general are ordering fewer beverages when they visit a restaurant, he added, and alcohol is one of the first orders to go.
The trend away from alcohol is especially popular among adults aged between 18 and 34. A Statistics Canada survey in 2021 found that one in five Canadians were drinking less than they did pre-pandemic, with younger Canadians more likely to be cutting back.
There are multiple factors at play.
Generation Z is growing more health conscious and also doesn't want to splurge on drinks when going out, reasoned Robert Carter, a food service industry expert.
