CALGARY — Recent numbers released by the Brewers Association of Canada show Alberta took one of the hardest hits among the provinces in terms of beer sales between September 2008 and 2009.
The year-over-year decrease didn’t come as a surprise to Blair Houston, who owns Beckhams Pub and Eatery in Calgary.
He says the cost of draught has skyrocketed by as much as 50 per cent over the last year.
That’s forcing many pubs to charge customers more money for pints of beer.
Houston says he’s shocked that more places haven’t gone under.
Pub owner Bruce MacKenzie says with costs going up, a lot of customers are opting to drink at home instead.
However, he’s optimistic things will turn around as soon as the economy does.
“Alberta is the kind of province where people work hard and play hard and once they’re back to work, there’s no question people will be back out enjoying themselves.”