NB Liquor beer sales down, and so are earnings

New Brunswickersweren't cracking open the brewskies this summer like they were last year.

Beer sales droppedand so did earningsat the New Brunswick Liquor Corporation during the second quarter, which covers the summer months.

The Crown corporation reported its financialsfor the quarter on Friday, and said in a news releasethat "weather-driven demand"for beer and other beverages was soft during the period.

Overall sales of $108.6 million in the quarter weredown slightly from the same time the year before. Net earnings were cut by $1.3 million to $46.3 million.

Beer sales dropped by three per cent. Winesawstronger sales, and spirits a modest increase.

"Successful promotions maintained the strong growth in the wine category and helped offset the decline in the beer category, even though beer sales and volumes began to gain momentum in late September," said Christopher Evans, vice-president and chief financial officer of NB Liquor.