A new report from BMO Capital Markets Economics says before we say goodbye to 2012, Canadians will likely have spent $19-billion on wine, beer and spirits.

Economist Aaron Goertzen tells 660News in the first nine months of the year, Canadians spent almost $500-million more on booze than they did over the same period a year ago.

Traditionally alcohol sales rise by some 40 per cent in the final month of the year, as Canadians gather to celebrate the holidays.

Beer continues to be the beverage of choice, but its market share is shrinking while wine sales continue to rise.

On average, Canadian adults are expected to drop around $85 on alcohol in December, which is the equivalent of purchasing approximately 1.2 bottles of spirits, 2.6 bottles of wine and 27 bottles of beer.