The growth of alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks in the UK is being led by young drinkers, according to the latest research from Drinkaware.
In its report, the charity said the number of young people (aged 18–34) who moderate with alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks has risen from 28% in 2018 to 49% in 2025.
In 2018, the charity continued, younger people were the least likely to moderate with alcohol-free options but are now the most likely, reflecting a cultural shift in attitudes towards drinking.
Within this age category, Drinkaware found that men were more likely to moderate for practical reasons, such as driving. Meanwhile, more women cited reducing their alcohol intake for health reasons.
Among men in all age groups, the report found that moderation had risen from 23% to 40%, closing the gender gap between men and women. Much of this was driven by alcohol-free products, which doubled among men from 15% to 29%.
In contrast, the largest increase in risky drinking occurred among female drinkers aged 55 and above, along with 18–34-year-olds within the ABC1 socioeconomic bracket.
Drinkaware said that the uptake of risky drinking increased by 17% to 40% among older women from 2018 to now. Likewise, it rose from 22% to 48% among ABC1 18–34-year-olds, placing them outside the general trend for moderation in that group.
Considering age disparities, the charity said that in 2018 older drinkers were the most likely to moderate. However, they are now the least likely, with uptake having increased from 33% to 41%, the smallest rise among any group.
Likewise, the charity found disparities among socioeconomic groups, with uptake of low & no options among ABC1 drinkers (as a whole) rising from 31% to 48%, compared with 32% to 40% among C2DE drinkers.
“This trend is particularly concerning in the context of the Alcohol Harm Paradox, whereby less affluent groups experience disproportionately greater alcohol-related harm despite often consuming alcohol at similar, or even lower, levels than more affluent groups,” the charity said.
Finally, Drinkaware noted that there were also differences across regions in the UK. Wales saw the smallest rise, with numbers increasing from 33% to 39%. Scotland followed, moving from 32% to 40%. Meanwhile, drinkers in England increased their consumption of low & no from 31% to 45%, and Northern Ireland rose from 33% to 48%.
