Angela Hansen decided to open Mocktails, a non-alcoholic liquor store, after struggling to find a store with a large variety of options in Vancouver.
The recently launched Mocktails store and The Drive Canteen, a sober snack bar, are among the Vancouver businesses responding to a growing demand for non-alcoholic beverages.
Hansen and experts in the field said an increased awareness regarding the health impacts of alcohol has created a shift in demand for non-alcoholic products and specialized stores.said the non-alcoholic beer market in Canada is expected to be worth about $400 million in revenue this year and is seen growing annually by 5 per cent.
He said Canadians consume an average of 13.3 drinks a week and close to 10 litres a year – nearly twice as much as the annual global average – which can lead to a higher risk of developing several types of cancer, liver cirrhosis and heart disease. "We've seen a lot of people who still drink, but want to drink a lot less and … mix in some non-alcoholic zero proof stuff with their regular drinking habits," he said, also noting a rise in younger customers with "a very different view on alcohol."
"We initially started with 100 to 200 square feet … we are now almost at 1,000 square feet dedicated to non-alcoholic and as each week passes gradually more and more take over."For customer Charlene Prevatt, 42, the variety of non-alcoholic options allow her to drink "for the flavour of alcohol, not just for the feeling."
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