Going booze free?

As manufacturers adapt creatively to health trends, revised guidelines and stricter legislation around alcohol, beer, wine and spirits have undergone a transformation. With a world of zero-alcohol alternatives waiting to be explored, should you crack one open?

- Linda Moon

Bicking back with an alcoholic bevvy symbolises the end of the work day, relaxation, social bonding, events and celebrations. At the same time, the health risks of alcohol - at least two important scientific reports conclude the only safe level is none - the hip pocket and other factors mean many of us want to cut down. Almost one in five of us reported drinking less in the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics survey of alcohol consumption. Aligning with our changing times, manufacturers have come to the party. Without fanfare, alcohol-free versions of beer, wine, spirits and other alcoholic beverages have crept into the shelves of supermarkets, bottle shops and bars and into the menus of eateries.

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