The British Beer and Pub Association says no and low-alcohol beer is enjoying its strongest summer yet, with sales expected to top 64 million pints during the season after a rise of more than 8 million pints on last year. The trade body said the category’s momentum shows it has become a permanent feature of the UK beer market rather than a passing trend, building on what it described as a record year for the sector. According to the association, around 200 million no and low beers were drunk last year, extending a run of growth that has continued through 2024. Reuters-style industry reporting has also pointed to sustained expansion in the wider category, with the BBPA forecasting a record 140 million pints sold in pubs last year, up from more than 120 million in 2023.

The BBPA has credited the rise to breweries and pubs widening their ranges and to drinkers increasingly seeking moderation without giving up the social occasion of going to the pub. It says the growth has made pubs more inclusive, with no and low-alcohol options now far more commonplace than they were only a few years ago. Industry coverage from The Morning Advertiser said 86% of pubs now stock no and low drinks, while 8% serve them on draught, compared with just 2% in 2019.

Emma McClarkin, the BBPA’s chief executive, said the category’s year-on-year gains show it is "here to stay" and argued that the Government should revise the UK definition of alcohol-free beer from below 0.05% ABV to 0.5% ABV. She said that would encourage further investment and bring Britain into line with many other markets. That labelling issue has long been a source of confusion in the trade: consumer guidance and sector commentary have noted that some drinks marketed as alcohol-free can contain up to 0.5% ABV, despite the tighter UK threshold.

Producers say demand is being lifted by warm weather, sporting occasions and changing drinking habits. James Rabagliati, head brewer at Nirvana Brewery, said the summer heatwave had boosted sales, particularly among people reducing their alcohol intake in higher temperatures, while some customers were alternating between alcohol-free and alcoholic drinks in what the industry calls "zebra-striping". Luke Boase, founder of Lucky Saint, said sales had risen when "the sun is out and the football is on", adding that alcohol-free beer has become part of how many people now drink. Beyond Britain, market research cited by the sector suggests the wider no and low-alcohol drinks market remains on a strong growth path, reflecting a broader shift towards moderation across drinks categories.

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