UK’s alcohol-free beer boom threatened by regulations, trade body warns

BBPA wants content definition for beer to be considered non-alcoholic to be changed from 0.05% to 0.5%

Pubs and brewers are being prevented from capitalising on Britons’ record-breaking thirst for alcohol-free beer because of over-strict regulation, a trade body has warned.

More than 64m pints of low- and no-alcohol beer is forecast to be sold over the summer, an increase of 8m compared with 2025, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) said, citing the figures as proof that the category is “not just a fad” .

The trend comes amid lower rates of alcohol consumption among younger people and a more short-term trend towards moderation, with the UK in the grip of multiple prolonged heatwaves.

However, the BBPA warned that further growth in “no and low” beer, a category sometimes known as “nolo”, could be curtailed by the UK’s definition of what constitutes alcohol-free beer.

The current definition is an alcohol by volume content of 0.05% or lower, compared with many other countries where the threshold is 10 times higher, at 0.5%. Removing alcohol entirely from beer while retaining the drink’s signature flavour and aroma is extremely difficult.

Typically, the beer is brewed in much the same way, before going through a process of dealcoholisation, through a variety of methods, including the use of pressure or heat. Various methods of dealcoholisation have disadvantages, such as removing flavour or increasing cost.

Speaking after the BBPA registered its concern, the government said it would consider changing the definition.

The BBPA said historic sales figures showed that no- and low-alcohol beer is the sector’s biggest growth category across the UK, with volume growth of 870% since 2013.

While choice in non-alcoholic beers has increased dramatically over the past decade, brewers warned that the 0.05% watermark was constraining further investment.

“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 Lucky Saint, which has experienced an increase in sales during the World Cup.

“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.”

Emma McClarkin, the chief executive of the BBPA, said: “We need government to keep the momentum going by changing the alcohol-free definition to 0.5%. This will open the door to greater investment, keep us on par with international markets, and deliver even more options for people who choose to moderate – everyone wins.”

A government spokesperson said the Department of Health and Social Care was considering changing the guidelines about what constitutes alcohol-free. “The government recognises the role no- and low-alcohol products can play in helping people reduce their alcohol intake and in boosting public health,” they said.

“To support innovation in this area and help businesses thrive, we are considering changing the threshold at which a drink may be described as alcohol-free. We have engaged with a range of stakeholders on this issue, including the BBPA. We will take other public health considerations into account and update in due course.”