This report offers a complete analysis of UK Consumer Attitudes towards Low and Non-Alcoholic Drinks, alongside a five year market outlook and the best recent launch activity and innovation.
Key Insights Covered in this Report:
- The impact of the cost-of-living crisis on value and volume sales of low- and no-alcohol drinks.
- Trends in launch activity in low- and no-alcohol drinks, and opportunities for further innovation.
- Levels of alcohol moderation and avoidance.
- Demographic patterns in usage of low- and no-alcohol drinks.
- Leading usage occasions for low- and no-alcohol drinks, including at home and in the on-trade.
- Barriers to drinking low-/no-alcohol drinks, including concerns over price and sugar content.
Low-Alcohol and Non-alcoholic Drinks Market Landscape
The rising cost of living has boosted alcohol moderation in recent years, supporting sales of low-/no-alcohol versions. However, their relatively high price is a barrier to usage of low/no-alcohol drinks, seeing many people favour soft drinks as alternatives to alcohol. Higher usage of low-/no-alcohol drinks among the financially better-off suggests that these drinks should benefit as real income growth picks up momentum.
- UK non-alcoholic drinks market size: Retail value and volume sales of low- and no-alcohol drinks more than doubled over 2019-24. Mintel estimates the UK low- and no-alcohol market size is £380 million in 2024.
Low- and No-alcohol Drinks – UK Consumer Trends
Concerns about sugar are a major barrier to greater take-up of low-/no-alcohol drinks, impeding their ability to appeal as a healthier alternative to their alcohol-containing counterparts. Raising awareness that lower alcohol content does not necessarily mean higher sugar, including sugar-related on-pack nutritional claims where relevant, should help companies to reassure consumers on this front and to drive sales.
Forging associations with relaxation will bolster the appeal of low-/no-alcohol brands, as concerns over alcohol’s negative effects on emotional wellbeing and sleep patterns are among key motivations for drinking low-/no-alcohol variants.
- Non-alcoholic drinks consumer behaviour: Concerns about alcohol affecting emotional wellbeing prompt usage of low-/no-alcohol drinks among 55% of UK drinkers.
Purchase the full report for a consumer-led analysis of the UK non-alcoholic drinks market, including full market dynamics and the latest innovation and marketing trends. Readers of this report may also be interested in Mintel’s UK Brand Overview: Drinks Market Report.
More About This Report
This report examines consumer usage of and attitudes towards low-/no-alcohol drinks. In the consumer research, this was defined to survey respondents as: “drinks designed as an alternative to standard alcoholic drinks. This includes lower- and non-alcoholic/alcohol-free beer, cider, wine and pre-mixed drinks as well as soft drinks designed specifically as an alternative to alcoholic drinks (eg Seedlip non-alcoholic spirit).”
Retail sales data is provided in the Market Size and Segmentation sections for the following segments:
- Low-/no-alcohol beer with an ABV of up to 1.2%
- No- and lower-alcohol wine with an ABV of less than 1%
- No-alcohol spirits alternatives
- Low-/no-alcohol cider with an ABV of up to 1%
- Low-/no-alcohol RTDs with an ABV of up to 1%
Meet The Expert
This report was written by Alice Baker, Food and Drink Analyst at Mintel. Alice analyses and writes on the UK Food & Drink sector, having joined Mintel in January 2016. She has previously worked for the International Meat Trade Association and in local government. She holds a BA in History and an MA in History of Political Thought from University College London.
Consumers’ desire to support their emotional wellbeing underpins the usage of low-/no-alcohol drinks, however concerns over price and sugar content pose barriers.
Alice Baker
Food and Drink Analyst