The Six “low & No” Beers To Keep Tabs On In 2019

For the 4.2 million people in the UK taking part in January’s month-long abstinence from alcohol, there’s never been a better time to continue with a mindful approach to drinking all year round. The ever-increasing and diverse range of lower and non-alcoholic beers available to drink both at home and in pubs in the UK is a “game changer” for those considering adopting moderate drinking habits alongside a balanced diet to maintain good health and wellbeing. 

Statistics show that our appetite for “low and no” beer is on the rise with around 1.4m UK households buying low- or no-alcohol beers in the past year, according to a recent report by Kantar Worldpanel – a 57% increase in two years. In addition, drinking habits and attitudes have changed more widely with new research, published in the medical journal BMC Public Health and carried out by University College London, revealing that the proportion of 16 to 24-year-olds who do not drink alcohol has increased from 18% in 2005 to 29% in 2015. Binge drinking rates also decreased – from 27% in 2005 to 18% in 2015, based on Health Survey for England figures.

Brigid Simmonds, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, comments;

“With the continued investment and innovation in low and no alcoholic beers, those wanting to continue with their mindful approach to drinking all year round are very well catered for. The skill and craft needed to brew low and no alcoholic beers is no different to that needed to make standard strength beers, meaning they taste just as good and without any compromise to quality. With a greater range of low and no alcoholic beers available than ever before, whether in the pub or at home, there has never been a better time to give them a go!”

For those looking for more information on the range of alcohol free beers available as well as where to enjoy them in pubs and bars around the country, Club Soda, the mindful drinking movement, has just published the latest version of its “Pub Guide to the best low and no alcohol drinks and where to find them”.

Laura Willoughby, Founder of Club Soda comments, “We are seeing an emergence of diverse and lively social spaces where nobody has to feel out of place not drinking alcohol. There are many reasons why people are cutting down or not drinking alcohol on a night out, from improving their health to the need to drive home, but that should not mean they can’t go to their local and have just as good an experience. The increasing choice and diversity of low and no alcohol beers means that you no longer have to compromise.”