One in three drinkers is raising a glass to ‘alcohol-free’ versions of their favourite tipple, research suggests.
Non-alcoholic spirits, wines and beers have surged in popularity over the past 12 months as consumers look for healthier options to booze.
Experts say middle-class and young drinkers are increasingly using them to moderate alcohol intake, often alternating between full alcohol versions.
Overall, 31 per cent have consumed teetotal beverages, up from 25 per cent last year, according to the annual survey by the charity Drinkaware.
But the biggest leap is among higher social classes, whose consumption has more than doubled since 2018, rising from 18 per cent to 38 per cent.
Low-alcohol versions are also increasingly being used to cut down, with 36 per cent of drinkers saying they use them.
Men have also closed the gap with women, with 31 and 32 per cent respectively now using non-alcoholic substitutes, compared with 15 and 21 per cent six years ago.
Many said these were preferable to a soft drink or a cup of tea ‘because they look, taste and feel like alcohol’ so felt more sociable and were less likely to be asked why they were not drinking.
Millennials are the most likely to forego alcohol – with one in five of 18 to 34-year-olds now teetotal, compared to 13 per cent of 35 to 54-year-olds and 14 per cent aged 55 and over.
Karen Tyrell, chief executive of Drinkaware, said: ‘It is really encouraging to see the growth in people moderating their drinking, especially among the young.
‘The growth of low and no-alcohol drinks and their increase in popularity makes it much easier for people to moderate their drinking.
However, more than 10,000 people died from alcohol-related illness last year, the highest on record. Understanding how much you drink can help prevent your health being put at serious risk.’
Taking drink-free days remains the most popular way to moderate – up from 67 per cent in 2023 to 71 per cent in 2024, according to the survey of more than 5,000 UK adults.
But around eight million people are drinking to potentially harmful levels by exceeding the chief medical officer’s guidelines of no more than 14 units per week.
Some 28 per cent reported being concerned about someone else’s drinking in the past 12 months, up from 26 per cent the year before.
Despite this, only 27 per cent of UK adults have been asked to complete an alcohol assessment such as the Drinkaware Drinking Check.
