UK’s alcohol-free beer boom is under threat, trade body warns

The no and low-alcohol beer business might be facing a setback despite more and more people across the UK are trading booze for healthier options — and it all boils down to a technicality.

The no-booze movement has expanded way past the confines of Dry January, when some turn to non-alcoholic options after the excesses of the festive period.

Many pubgoers in the UK have been enjoying many a pint of no or low-alcohol beer across the several heatwaves that have hit the country in the last few weeks, with projections for the year suggesting that 64 million pints of low- and no-alcohol beer will be sold over the summer, registering an increase of 8million compared with 2025.

While the ‘no and low’ beer has been proving that it’s more than just a temporary trend or a new year’s resolution and is becoming an integral part of going-out culture, a figure in the official definition of no and low-alcohol beer might hinder further growth.

More people in the UK are choosing 'nolo' options when going for a pint. (Getty Stock Images)

According to the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), the UK’s definition of what constitutes non-alcoholic beer might be a little too strict compared to other countries.

Currently, in order to be classified as ‘nolo’ in the UK, a beer has to have an alcohol by volume content of 0.05 percent or lower, a quantity that’s ten times lower than that of many other countries, where the threshold is usually 0.5 percent.

This happens because removing alcohol entirely from a ‘nolo’ beer could alter the drink’s flavour and aroma significantly. At present, alcohol content is minimised through various methods of dealcoholisation, including the use of pressure or heat. These methods, however, have disadvantages, such as removing flavour or increasing cost.

There is no legal prohibition on a beer with 0.5% ABV being advertised as alcohol-free, the BBPA said. With the association raising concerns that the 0.05 percent limit in the definition might cause confusion, the UK government said it would consider loosening the official description to match those of other countries, thus giving a fighting chance at one of the fastest-growing businesses of the last decade.

The heatwaves of the last few weeks might've played a part in more people choosing 'nolo' beer, (Getty Stock Images)

“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,” said Luke Boase, the founder of alcohol-free brand Lucky Saint, said (via The Guardian).

“We think the government updating the alcohol-free definition to 0.5% will get more people drinking alcohol-free in this country, which can only be a good thing.”