Alcohol abstinence is rising, with low- and no-alcohol brands primarily appealing to moderators. Focus on divorcing taste associations from standard alcoholic drinks, and redefining the social drinking occasion. Javier Munoz,…
Germany
Consumer Attitudes
Drinks
simple
Germany Attitudes towards Low- and No-Alcohol Drinks Consumer Report 2025
"Alcohol abstinence is rising, with low- and no-alcohol brands primarily appealing to moderators. Focus on divorcing taste associations from standard alcoholic drinks, and redefining the social drinking occasion."
Alcohol consumption is decreasing in Germany, driven by health and economic pressures. One quarter of Germans now do not drink alcohol, up 3pp since 2024, reflecting intentions to improve physical health and the increasingly dispensable nature of alcohol during times of economic squeeze.
Adjacent categories pose strong competition to low-/no-alcohol drinks. Fruit juice and carbonated soft drinks act as natural alternatives for consumers moderating alcohol intake, meaning low-/no-alcohol brands must contend with competition beyond alcoholic mimicry.
There is an opportunity to move beyond imitation by leaning into refreshment and flavour. Low-/no-alcohol brands can counter adjacent categories by tapping into the trend for refreshing summer drinks, utilising fruit’s natural flavours.
Shifting social norms and health priorities create space for empowerment-led positioning. While peer pressure to drink remains an issue, low-/no-alcohol brands — alongside government efforts — can help re-mould societal attitudes, empowering consumers to enjoy any drink without justification, supported by health-related trends favouring drinks with inherent isotonic properties that help reduce hangovers and ‘hangxiety’.
Key Issues Covered in the Report
Alcohol reduction and consumption trends, with one quarter of Germans not
drinking alcohol
Usage of alcoholic, low- and no-alcohol drinks, with usage relatively stable over the past few years
Change in consumption of low- and no-alcohol drinks, and the role abstinence plays in supporting no-alcohol drink sales
Motivation to choose a low- or no-alcohol drink over an alcoholic one, and the importance of brands supporting a healthy lifestyle without making overt health claims
Attitudes and behaviours relating to low- and no-alcohol drinks, and how to reduce the impact of societal pressure to drink alcohol
Key new product development trends in the category
Collapse All
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
What you need to know
Opportunities
Outlook
OPPORTUNITIES
Advance the category taste beyond just mimicry
Pique taste curiosity using fruit’s natural flavours
Embrace new taste and functionality for traditionally high-alcohol drinks
Spark AI suggests how to incorporate exciting, unexpected flavour
Emphasise the benefits of alcohol avoidance
Support health-related trends with low-sugar, low-alcohol and isotonic variants
Highlight the holistic benefits of alcohol avoidance
Heineken campaign highlights that you don’t need a reason to drink non-alcoholic drinks
Encourage safer, more responsible socialising
Endorse responsible drink education with alcohol-free drinks
Reduce incidences of ‘hangxiety’ with low-/no-alcohol drinks
THE CONSUMER
Alcohol consumption and reduction trends
Just a quarter of Germans don’t drink
The low-/no-alcohol drink category struggles to capitalise on alcohol moderation
Two fifths don’t drink alcohol due to disliking its taste
Graph 1: reasons for not drinking alcohol, 2025
Issues with taste may provide an explanation for the relatively low uptake amongst women
Graph 2: consumption of different types of low/no/standard alcoholic drinks, 2025
Usage of alcoholic, low- and no-alcohol drinks
Over three-quarters of Germans consume low-/no-alcohol drinks
Graph 3: consumption of low/no/standard alcoholic drinks (NET), 2025
Beer is the most popular alcoholic and low/no beverage
Graph 4: consumption of low/no/standard alcoholic drinks, by type, 2025
Isotonic alcohol-free beer must also meet taste expectations
Graph 5: consumption of beer, low-alcohol beer and alcohol-free beer, 2025
Improve taste messaging to address low uptake of low-/no-alcohol spirits
Repertoire
Graph 6: repertoire of consumption of no-alcohol drinks in the last three months, 2023 vs 2025
Graph 7: repertoire of consumption of low-alcohol drinks in the last three months, 2023 vs 2025
Curiosity can encourage greater uptake of low-/no-alcohol drinks
Change in usage of low- and no-alcohol drinks
No-alcohol drinks gain traction amidst the shift towards abstinence
A quarter of consumers are drinking more no-alcohol drinks in 2025
Graph 8: consumption of non-alcoholic/alcohol-free drinks compared to a year ago, 2025
Motivation to choose a low- or no-alcohol drink over an alcoholic one
Over a third choose low-/no-alcohol over alcoholic, believing ‘it’s safer to stay sober’
Graph 9: motivation to choose a low- or no-alcohol drink over an alcoholic one in the last three months, 2025
Health-related benefits could deliver more motivation
Highlight how low/no drinks can be less damaging to health compared to alcohol
Alcohol-free drinks can deliver hydration to stave off hangovers
Focus on the holistic benefits of sugar reduction – not just weight management
Attitudes and behaviours
Societal pressures around alcohol continue to affect Germans
Increased acceptance of low/no drinks struggles to erode peer pressure
Graph 10: sense of belonging felt by using the same brands as friends/family, 2024
Consumers are curious, but familiarity is likely to convert to purchase
Potential to attract non-users with product trial
Graph 11: behaviour towards low-/no-alcohol drinks, by user/non-user, 2025
General feeling that low-/no-alcohol drinks should cost less
Graph 12: attitudes towards low-/no-alcohol drinks, 2025
Sparkling wine is the third-most-popular low-/no-alcohol drink
Category consumers attach greater value to low-/no-alcohol alternatives
Communicate why low-/no-alcohol drinks are more valuable
INNOVATION
Launches of alcohol-free drinks show signs of continued growth in the first half of 2025
Beer and wine dominate low-/no-alcohol launch activity
Graph 13: alcoholic drink launches with no/low-alcohol claims, by sub-category, 2022-25
Low-/no-alcohol launch activity focuses on new varieties to indicate novelty
Graph 14: alcoholic drink launches, by launch type and low-/no-alcohol claims, 2022-25
New varieties in 2025 target summer refreshment
Strong share of low-/no-alcohol drinks make environmentally friendly package claims
Graph 15: alcoholic drink launches, by selected claims and low-/no-alcohol claims, 2022-25
Conscious packaging can lessen the environmental impact of production
Organic claims can enhance low-/no-alcohol drinks’ health positioning
Private label continues to be squeezed out of the low-/no-alcohol market
Graph 16: launch share of low-/no-alcohol drinks, branded vs private-label, 2020-25
Aperitif and liqueur innovation combines the old with the new
Isotonic low-/no-alcohol drinks can appeal to active Germans
Utilise fruit’s natural flavouring to boost low/no alternatives’ appeal
Market drivers
Alcoholic beverages’ CPI is relatively stable, yet finances restrict consumption
Graph 17: consumer price index for alcoholic beverages, 2024-25
Brewing industry in slight decline, yet alcohol-free consumption continues to grow
Graph 18: number of breweries in operation and beer sales in m litres, 2014-24
DGE recommends abstinence, which can help reduce alcohol-related incidents
Expect healthy ageing desires…
…to reduce the prominence of alcohol consumption
Government opposition builds against supervised drinking
APPENDIX
Report scope and definitions
Market definition
Abbreviations
Methodology – consumer research
Consumer research methodology
A note on language
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