New analysis from the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) predicts more than 64m pints of no-and-low beer will be sold this summer, eight million more than in 2025.
The BBPA said this staggering growth proves no-and-low is not just a fad, but a defining part of the beer and pub sector.
Last year, approximately 200m no-and-low beers were drunk, the category’s most successful year on record, with the boom made possible by the sector adapting to trends and producing more options than ever before.
Despite this strong growth, the BBPA warns progress is being held back by the UK’s restrictive definition of alcohol free.
Currently, an alcohol-free beer must be below 0.05 per cent ABV, which represents a barrier to entry to the category for many British brewers. This threshold contrasts with many other countries, which define alcohol free as 0.5 per cent ABV.
If government matches this threshold, UK brewers will be able to invest even more in no-and-low beers, which will give consumers extra options if they wish to moderate and will further boost economic growth, the BBPA said.
BBPA CEO Emma McClarkin said: “No and low popularity is booming and the category’s year-on-year success shows that it’s a category that’s here to stay.
“Brewers and pubs across the country are already responding to this by serving up great new options which help people choose moderation if they wish.
“We need government to keep the momentum going by changing the alcohol-free definition to 0.5 per cent. This will open the door to greater investment, keep us on par with international markets, and deliver even more options for people who choose to moderate – everyone wins.”
Nirvana brewery head brewer James Rabagliati said: “Like any brewery, summer is peak time for sales, and the heatwave has had a very positive impact on ours – especially as some people are moderating their alcohol intake in higher temperatures.
“We’ve seen people either exclusively drinking alcohol-free beer such as our pils and fruit lagers, or zebra-striping where they’re alternating between us and alcoholic beers.”
Lucky Saint founder Luke Boase said: “Summer sees demand for alcohol-free surge, as people spend longer socialising and enjoying the sun in pub gardens and parks or watching the sport.
“When the sun is out and the football is on, people want to make the most of it and alcohol-free beer matches the occasion. We’ve seen a spike in sales of Lucky Saint, and it’s a reflection of how alcohol-free beer has become part of the way people drink today.
“We think the government updating the alcohol-free definition to 0.5 per cent will get more people drinking alcohol-free in this country, which can only be a good thing.”
