When times are good and everyone is employed and making a few extra bucks they buy all those little extras, but when times are bad and you're living on only one salary, (let's face it folks most families have two wage earners), buying the higher priced imports and some good domestic beers isn't possible.
Molson/Coors has just anounced an increase in sales. Duh! I wonder why?
Now this is just my opinion. The place I work has cut my hours but I am expected to do just as much in less time as before. So now I make less money and I can't afford the beer I would like to buy. So I don't buy that beer. I am forced to buy from the big three in Canada. I don't like their beer, but I like beer. Now the little guys who make the good beer are forced to close. (hypothetical of course, but be patient), So those people lose their jobs. Eventually no one will be able to afford beer because, surprise, you do have to eat and feed your family! So now all the beer they make has no buyers. No one can afford to drink beer. When the big 'three' had 10,000 employees or whatever and they cut a bunch of jobs so did they cut their buyer base.
Like I said, you have to make a choice, food or beer. I hope it never comes to that!
Beware, big nanny is watching.