- Sales value of alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks has more than doubled since 2020, soaring to £362 million in 2023
- A new report from the University of Sheffield’s Addictions Research Group revealed people who drink at ‘risky’ levels are more likely to consume so-called no/lo alcohol drinks
- Major alcohol brands still dominate the no/lo market, and some alcohol-free options, like beer, remain more expensive than their alcoholic equivalents
- This poses a potential barrier to public health benefits, especially for more deprived groups
Heavy drinkers are more likely to buy alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks, a new report from the University of Sheffield has revealed.
The sales value of so-called no/lo drinks soared to £362 million in 2023, more than doubling since 2020. However, the new report from the Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG) raises important questions about whether the industry’s growth is helping to improve public health.
The research, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) found that while one-third of UK adults have drunk a no/lo drink in the last year, those who drink at risky levels are more likely to be regular consumers of these alternatives than lighter drinkers or non-drinkers.
The no/lo market has expanded dramatically, with sales volume increasing by 66 per cent and sales value more than doubling since 2020. This growth is driven by major alcohol brands, which account for 84 per cent of sales for the top 100 no/lo products.
A notable finding of the report is a complex pricing picture. While people on average pay less for their no/lo wine, spirits, and ready-to-drink beverages in shops than for their alcoholic counterparts, they still pay more for no/lo beer and cider. There are concerns this pricing disparity could undermine the potential public health benefits.
Professor John Holmes, Director of the Sheffield Addictions Research Group and Report Author, said: "It's encouraging to see that people drinking at risky levels are trying no/lo drinks, and that some no/lo options like wine and spirits are now more affordable.
“However, the fact that no/lo beer and cider remain more expensive is a concern. Since alcohol causes the most harm among more deprived groups, any affordability barriers could limit the potential public health benefits of these products."
Professor Adam Briggs, Programme Director for the NIHR Public Health Research (PHR) Programme, said: "The study team's findings help build a much clearer picture of the current no/lo alcohol market and consumer behaviours.
"Deaths from alcohol in England are continuing to rise and understanding how the no/lo alcohol market is changing over time is crucial to developing effective public health policy on alcohol and delivering the government’s shift from sickness to prevention."
The report, titled: "Alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks in Great Britain: Monitoring report on 2023 data," also used household purchasing data for the first time, revealing that 96 per cent of households that buy no/lo drinks also buy alcoholic ones. It also showed the availability of no/lo beers in pubs, bars and restaurants has increased, with 74 per cent of outlets selling it in 2023.
The study is the second monitoring report into no/lo alcohol from the University of Sheffield and aims to help government and health organisations better understand the role that these products could play in public health policies.
To view the report in full, please visit: https://sarg-sheffield.ac.uk/projects/no-lo-project/
