Sales of low and zero alcohol drinks soar by a third during coronavirus lockdown
MILLIONS of Brits are choosing low or no alcohol beer, wines and spirits to drink at home instead of booze.
Sales at supermarkets, off-licences and shops are up a third to £143million.
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More shelf space is being devoted to them as many want to drink something that tastes like their usual tipple while they cut back, quit or look for a change, analysts say.
Health, fitness and cost were said to be the main reasons so-called low and no had become “part of the national mindset”.
Sales of low and no alcohol beers are up 40 per cent to £71.4million.
Ciders are 28 per cent higher at £17.3million.
Ready-to-drink cocktails and mixes have more than doubled to £3.8million although wines are down six per cent at £45.2million.
Analysts at Kantar compared figures for the year to January 26 with the previous 12-months.
Booze sales also rose over the year, they added.
The Grocer magazine, which commissioned the analysis, said: “Over the past couple of years ‘low and no’ has grown from a much-maligned niche into a category that justifies serious space in the likes of Tesco.
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“It’s an opportunity that was growing well before the coronavirus changed our national behaviour.”
Alex Carlton, founder of zero-proof spirits brand Stryyk, said: “People now understand the benefits of having a daily product that fits into their rituals without excess.”
Marketing consultants Sign Salad said low and no-alcohol drinks were more affordable and seen as healthier.
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