More people are drinking low- and no-alcohol alternatives than ever before, according to The Portman Group’s seventh annual survey of the nation’s drinking habits.
Conducted in partnership with YouGov, the survey found that well over a third (38%) of UK drinkers are now consuming low- and no-alcohol alternatives semi-regularly (12% regularly and 26% occasionally) – compared to 35% in 2023 and 29% in 2022, with a notable increase in regular consumption from 8% in 2023 to 12% in 2024.
Young adults continue to drive the trend as the biggest consumers of low- and no-alcohol alternatives, with close to half (46%) of 25–34-year-olds surveyed considering themselves either an occasional or regular drinker of alcohol alternatives, compared to 37% in 2023. Forty per cent of 18–24-year-olds also drink these products semi-regularly.
Trends show that the younger generation also continue to be the most sober age group overall, with 39% of 18–24-year-olds not drinking alcohol at all.
Almost a quarter (24%) of current alcohol drinkers said that their weekly consumption has fallen due to the availability of low- and no-alcohol products, up from 23% in 2023 and 21% in 2022.
Almost three in 10 (29%) of low and no drinkers cited collective ‘health and medical’ concerns as a key reason for choosing an alcohol alternative – a huge increase when compared to 2021 (22%).
For the seventh year in a row, being able to drive home from social events is the number one reason cited by low and no drinkers for choosing an alcohol alternative, with over a quarter (28%) stating they will most commonly drink low and no alternatives in situations where they are unable to have a regular-strength alcoholic drink such as when they are driving.
