Pandemic drives more Brits to low and no drinks, research shows

Despite widespread concerns surrounding alcohol consumption, many have taken the pandemic as an opportunity to cut down on their drinking, with people of all ages turning to low and no alcohol alternatives, according to a new research.

In a survey conducted by YouGov for the Portman Group, the social responsibility and regulatory body for the UK alcohol industry, among those who say they are more likely to drink low and no products since the emergence of COVID-19, almost half (43%) said they are trying to live healthier.

Nearly equal respondents (41%) said they are trying to moderate their alcohol consumption at home, reinforcing existing responsible drinking and moderation trends.

Over one-sixth (17.5%) of those who are already drinking low and no said they would be further encouraged to select alternatives if they were more widely available in supermarkets and hospitality venues.

“In recent years we have seen a steady rise in the interest surrounding low and no alcohol alternatives within beer and cider, and demand from consumers has grown considerably. As part of our approach to responsible drinking and promoting moderation, it is important for us to be able to offer people a high-quality no or low alcohol option amongst the brands they enjoy,” commented Simon Amor of Heineken UK.

The research showed that 62.5 per cent of UK adults have tried low and no products, including over two-thirds of current UK drinkers (68%). Furthermore, a quarter (25%) of UK drinkers consider themselves to be semi-regular consumers of low and no alcohol, with the highest consumption taking place in Scotland (27%).

Low and no sales continue to soar in the UK and the sector has witnessed a phenomenal 30 per cent year-on-year growth from 2019 to 2020, according to Nielsen data.