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.

The rise of teetotalling 

In a scene crowded with options, the new booze is a relative newcomer. Full-strength still reigns as the grog of choice data from the IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, for instance, shows that in 2020 no- and low-alcohol beer and cider, which lead sober alcohol sales, represented 5.3 per cent of the total beer and cider market in Australia; teetotalling wine and spirits far less. Non-alcoholic options are climbing in popularity within the country and abroad. A forecast by IWSR predicts the no- and low-alcohol sector in Australia will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8 per cent by 2025. Against a flat market for alcohol generally, it's significant. Teetotalling is "in", according to La Trobe University research. It's being led, their findings suggest, by a new breed of young people more closely monitored by parents and concerned about the future, health and being seen drunk on social media. Abstinence is on the rise for what's been dubbed "generation dry". Further research by Carlton & United Breweries found Carlton Zero, their non-alcoholic offering, particularly popular among 25- to 34-year-olds with fit and active lifestyles.