British Columbians bought more booze in 2009.
B.C.'s liquor distirbution branch saw its revenue increase 3.5% to $2.92 billion in 2009 compared with 2008, according to Statisitics Canada.
That's higher than the nation-wide sales percentage increase for 2009, for the year ending March 31, which rose 3% to $19.4 billion.
Statistics Canada said the increase reflected more sales of imported spirits and beer compared with domestic products, and an average 1% rise in alcoholic beverage prices.
Beer sales across Canada increased 2.2% in 2009 to $8.8 billion, with B.C., Alberta and Quebec leading that growth.
In B.C., 2009 beer sales rose 2.1% to $1.16 billion, while wine sales increased 6.2% to $925.7 million.
The increase in wine sales across Canada can be attributed to the rising popularity of red wines, which accounted for 64% of the total volume of red and white wine sold, StatsCan said.
The province also witnessed a 2.7% increase in the sale of spirits to $829 million, and the report said the increase was largely due to a 5.6% rise in vodka sales.