Non-alcoholic, health-conscious drinks still in high demand as tastes shift: report

Budweiser Zero and Corona Cero non-alcoholic beer is shown at Labatt's office in Toronto, on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. A new report says the beverage industry has grown to meet Canadians' shifting tastes, which has seen rising demand for both health-conscious and non-alcoholic drinks. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sammy Kogan

A new report says the beverage industry has grown to meet Canadians’ shifting tastes as demand rises for both health-conscious and non-alcoholic drinks.

The report from the Conference Board of Canada, which was funded by the Canadian Beverage Association, says households spent $12.5 billion on non-alcoholic beverages in 2024, which was three per cent above pre-pandemic levels.

But household spending on non-alcoholic drinks has moderated from the peak of just over $13 billion it saw during the pandemic, coming down 4.4 per cent since 2020.

The report estimates the non-alcoholic beverage sector added $5.8 billion to Canada’s GDP last year, generating $0.8 in additional GDP for every dollar of output.

It says the industry supported 45,000 direct, indirect and induced full-time equivalent jobs, as direct employment surpassed 16,000 full-time roles.

The research also shows that consumer preferences have also been shifting toward beverages with ingredients that carry health benefits, reduced sugar, organic certification and plant-based components.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 25, 2025.

Sammy Hudes, The Canadian Press