Alcohol buying habits in Nunavut shifted in a big way the same year a beer and wine store opened, according to the latest report on retail sales from Statistics Canada.

“Prior to the opening of this store, much of Nunavut’s liquor was purchased outside of the territory through import permits,” the report states. “The Nunavut Liquor Commission has seen a decrease in import permits following the opening of the new retail store.” Iqaluit’s beer and wine store, which opened in September 2017.

Beer sales were up by 76.6 percent, compared to 0.8 per cent nationally, totalling $5.7 million. Adding in $83,000 in sales of coolers, ciders and other “refreshment” beverages, the total sales in the territory amounted to $9.3 million, an increase of 75 per cent over the previous year. 

Sales of liquor, which is not available at the retail outlet, dropped by 12.4 per cent for a total of $1.3 million in sales. One factor is because people in Iqaluit must order from the liquor warehouse in Rankin Inlet, or from outside the territory, which requires a permit.
 
Beer has the largest market share. In Nunavut and Yukon The Statistics Canada report also shows that beer continued to be the beverage of choice in Nunavut, representing 60.7 per cent of alcohol sales in the territory. In total, Nunavummiut purchased 835,000 litres of beer, or about 2.35 million cans. 

In its first year the Iqaluit store sold 1.9 million beers, 190,000 bottles of wine and was praised for doing a ‘good job’ of cutting down imports into the territory.

“We’re selling a lot of product and at the same time we’re seeing a lot less spirits sold and imported into the community,” said Daniel Young, director of Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis in a CBC interview.

Sources: 
CBC Newshttps://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/beer-and-wine-up-liquor-down-1.5136188
Nunatsiaq Newshttps://nunatsiaq.com/stories/article/beer-sales-booming-in-nunavut-statcan/
CBC News 2nd Sourcehttps://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/iqaluit-store-anniversary-1.4806981