Alcohol-free beer was today added to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) inflation basket, a list of items used in compiling measures of UK price inflation. 

Made to reflect changing consumer spending habits, the inclusion of the product speaks to the low & no category’s place in the mainstream. 

On this, the ONS official statement said: “Non-alcoholic beer has been added for the first time to represent an uncovered area of the alcohol market. Sales have increased over recent years, as has the product range and shelf space devoted to the product.” 

The ONS also commented that the changing basket reflected a wider interest in wellness culture sweeping the country. 

Stephen Burgess, deputy director for prices at the ONS, said: “This year, healthier lifestyle choices influence consumer spending, reflected by goods such as houmous and non-alcoholic beer.” 

At the same time, bottled premium lager bought in pubs and restaurants was removed from the list. The ONS said that this was due to a previous overrepresentation within the restaurant section. 

Elsewhere, New World and European white wines were merged into one item, having previously been listed as two. 

According to the office, this was to “rebalance the baskets, reduce coverage in some areas, and free up resources to improve it in others”. 

Overall, in the latest changes to the basket, 27 items were added while another 19 were removed. 

On the shifts, Burgess said: “Our basket of goods update sees some fascinating changes every year, offering valuable insight into consumers’ latest shopping habits.”