Yes, I think there isn't much to back up the idea that the growth of the Muslim population has led to less drinking. You'd see more of a correlation in places with large Muslim populations like Montreal, and yet there is no evidence of that.
Also, let's keep in mind that the decline in drinking may be overstated. Clearly there's a long-term trend towards more moderate consumption, not just in Canada but everywhere in the world. And yet there are also far more breweries today than at any point in the past century, more distilleries, more wineries. Alcohol in Canada is more widely available and widely consumed than at any point in the past several generations. It's just that most people who drink don't drink as heavily as they did in the past.
Just one example of why the decline may be exaggerated: there have been a lot of stories about how SAQ sales are down by double-digit percentages over the past couple of years. But nearly all of that decline is due to lower sales to bars and restaurants. Retail sales have declined only by 1 percent.
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