The finding comes from the Club Soda Drinks For Everyone 2025 report, which also discovered 37% of 18 to 34-year-olds drink alcohol-free drinks weekly, which is four times the rate for over-55s (9%) while more than half of respondents to its survey (56%) want to see alcohol-free drinks more widely promoted as alternatives to alcohol.
Club Soda was formed 10 years ago by Laura Willoughby and her team, who identified a lack of good alcohol-free drinks was getting in the way of consumers making healthier choices.
Willoughby said: “Ten years ago, if you weren’t drinking, your options were water and judgment. Now, alcohol-free drinks are not just socially acceptable – they’re essential.
Rapidly closing the gap
“Nearly half of UK adults are choosing them, and venues and retailers ignoring this shift are leaving money on the table. Booze-free isn’t boring anymore – it’s profitable, popular and part of the party.”
Club Soda added alcohol-free beer proves itself as the UK’s top booze-free choice, with 42% of adults drinking it at least occasionally, which is “rapidly closing the gap” with alcoholic beer (66%).
Meanwhile, one in three under-35s now opt for booze-free beers regularly with the main motivations being to reduce their alcohol consumption while staying social.
Far from being a fleeting trend, alcohol-free drinking has become a lifestyle choice rooted in health, taste and social inclusion. Whether it’s a work event or a night out, 37% of young adults say they choose alcohol-free beer to stay social without drinking alcohol.
Greater visibility and access
The mindful drinking group added while nearly 45% of consumers would prefer alcohol-free versions of their favourite alcohol brands, such as Heineken 0.0, a growing 19% now actively prefer and seek out dedicated alcohol-free brands such as Lucky Saint and Everleaf.
Public appetite for greater visibility and access is on the rise too, with over half of adults in the UK wanting alcohol-free drinks promoted more actively as everyday options (56%).
Support for alcohol-free branded advertising at sporting events is also high (58%), which Club Soda said is a clear indication of just how mainstream these choices have become.
Club Soda ran a series of events last year for its Drinks Academy, where experts on the low & no sector talked about a variety of categories. You can read about “the grandmother of low & no” Christine Parkinson by clicking here, Josh Kelly on cheese and low & no wine pairings here and eight ways to improve your drinks menu by Andreas Gunduz here.
