There are more and more alcohol-free drinks coming onto the market, and this trend shows no signs of slowing down. Since 2010, Dutch beer brewers have even reported a 285% increase in alcohol-free beer! In addition to alcohol-free beer, you can now find alcohol-free wine, gin, mojitos, and other “spirits”.
New alcohol-free drinks are chosen based on several factors such as good taste, the story behind the product, and the appearance of the bottle, glass, and label. Consumers are increasingly focused on a healthy lifestyle. There’s more exercise, healthier eating, and drinking habits — and alcohol doesn’t always fit into that picture.
Another reason people choose alcohol-free drinks more often is simply the wider availability. The range of non-alcoholic options seems to influence drink choices. In one study, 800 participants were given different menus with varying proportions of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The researchers compared a menu with a 50/50 ratio (4 alcoholic and 4 non-alcoholic options) to one with more alcoholic options (75%/25%) and one with more non-alcoholic options (25%/75%).
With the 75% alcoholic menu (6 out of 8 drinks), the chance of someone choosing a non-alcoholic option was 46% lower. With the menu offering 75% non-alcoholic drinks, the chance of choosing alcohol-free was 48% higher.
Globally, alcohol consumption ranks among the top five risk factors for disease. Research shows that increasing the availability of healthier options boosts their consumption — and decreases the intake of less healthy options. It now appears this strategy also works for alcoholic drinks.
And finally, one more reason to consider: a regular bottle of beer contains about 135 calories, while a 0.0% beer contains just 78! What will you choose?