Elaine Parr’s Post

The UK is more strict than Canada and the US when it comes to claiming your beverage is "non-alcoholic" or "alcohol-free". Currently, for a beverage to be considered non-alcoholic in Canada, it must contain an ABV of 0.5% or less. In the UK, it's an (impossibly) low 0.05%. I agree with Laura Willoughby MBE of Club Soda in this article - the UK should align it's threshold with that of Canada and the US. Why is 0.05% "impossibly" low? Because water is essentially one of the only beverages guaranteed to have an abv of 0.05% or less. Many everyday food and beverage items contain some trace amounts of alcohol. Bread. Over-ripe bananas. Even your grocery store orange juice could contain an abv somewhere around the 0.5% mark depending on the oranges, their ripeness, etc. Extracts, flavours, essences, distillates - all derived using ethyl alcohol (i.e. "drinking" alcohol). We learned early on we had to specifically request samples not be derived using ethyl alcohol as our early benchtops were over the the 1.1% abv threshold in Canada requiring you to label your product as alcoholic! Even with the 0.5% non-alcoholic threshold in Canada, we have to be conscious about what ingredients we're using, how they are derived, and what we can genuinely claim to be "alcohol-free". Raising the non-alcoholic threshold to 0.5% in the UK recognizes the proliferation of non-alcoholic options in the market, allows more non-alcoholic brands to grow, and ultimately provides consumers with more meaningful options.

ARE CONSUMERS REALLY DRINKING LESS ALCOHOL? …AND DOES IT MATTER? Part1 Barely a day goes by without a news article declaring the start of the end of drinking, especially among younger consumers. Non-alcoholic offerings of beer, wine and spirits have exploded in number whereas functional beverages and adult soft drinks have also contributed to consumers having more non-alcoholic options than ever before. So is this the start of a new era of less drinking (of alcohol) or something else? I and almost everyone I know in the industry celebrates the development of these options and the greater inclusivity it brings. In fact, I’m increasingly of the view, perhaps counterintuitively, that there are likely to be few losers from this development should it continue but there will be more of that in a later post. As the founder of Socially Spirited, a business founded on the purpose of DRINKING BETTER. TOGETHER, we’d love to add great non-alcoholic spirits to our line-up but the fact is that in spirits it’s really difficult to formulate a quality liquid that has both a great taste and that unique mouthfeel of alcohol. The beer guys have cracked it but engineering-wise, going from 4-5% ABV to zero is a lot easier than going from 40% to zero… There’s a fundamental price problem too – consumers know there is no duty being paid (c.£9/bottle in the UK for a 40% ABV spirit) and thus expect non-alc versions to be cheaper. HOWEVER, it’s also widely understood that price is a signifier of quality to consumers so being priced below their alcoholic equivalents, suggests to consumers, consciously or otherwise, that the product is in some way inferior. Indeed, Bacardi’s Martini Vibrante, a relatively respectable non-alc aperitivo, priced at £10/€11 in the off-trade, sets the bar very low (price-wise) and puts immediate pressure on the array of smaller more premium-priced competitors. The other problem the non-alc industry has, in my view, is terminology. Somehow the word ‘mocktail’ appears to have taken off and is increasingly becoming ingrained in the lexicon of the drinks industry, especially in the important on-trade. The Cambridge English Dictionary says: Mock (verb: UK mɒk, US mɑːk) To laugh at someone, often by copying them in a funny but unkind way: e.g. they were mocking him because he kept falling off his bike / she made fun of him by mocking his limp. Synonyms - to tease someone / to make something appear stupid or not effective   I certainly do not have the answer to the pricing conundrum described above, nor will I ever have the knowledge to crack the conundrum that is the mouthfeel of alcohol, without the alcohol. But, if I can help to kickstart the elimination of the word mocktail from the industry, count me in! Diageo Pernod Ricard Beam Suntory Campari Group Brown-Forman Sazerac Company Constellation Brands Fever-Tree Lyre's Spirit Co Seedlip Drinks Everleaf Drinks | B Corp Three Spirit Ritual Zero Proof Kin Euphorics Pentire Spiritless

Join us next week for a journey to explore non / low alcoholic drinks! When: Wed, 15 May 2024, 7pm Where: Club Soda, 39 Drury Ln, London WC2B 5RR Join us for an unforgettable evening of exploration and indulgence of non / low -alcoholic beverages, guided by an expert offering insights and fun facts. Tickets includes tasting of a selected range of non / low alcohol beers, wines, sparkling, spirits and mood enhancers, and a 10% discount for those who would like to buy any drinks from the shop at the end. Spread the word to your fellow alumni and we look forward to welcoming you for an evening of sophistication, exploration, and unparalleled taste experiences. Do you know: - Non-alcoholic drinks have been around for a decade! Non-alcoholic beer has its origins in the Prohibition era when breweries needed to adapt to restrictions on alcohol production. They developed methods to brew beer with minimal alcohol content, giving birth to the non-alcoholic beer we know today. - Non-alcoholic drinks come with health benefits! Non-alcoholic beer has gained popularity among athletes as a post-workout recovery drink. Its isotonic properties, along with vitamins and minerals, can aid in rehydration and replenishing glycogen stores without the intoxicating effects of alcohol. While non-alcoholic wine retains many of the health benefits associated with traditional wine, such as antioxidants and polyphenols derived from grape. - Non-alcoholic drinks are trending! Non-alcoholic beverages are the forerunner of innovation of the F&B industry. With the rise of mindful drinking movements, it's one of the fastest growing markets. Tickets here: https://lnkd.in/eWvCfcjt

Are Nonalcoholic Beverages Good for You? Sales of NA beer, wine and spirits are soaring. Here’s what to know before you take your next sip. Nonalcoholic beverages used to be the butt of jokes. Now, they’re the fastest-growing sector of the alcohol market. Sales of nonalcoholic beer, wine and liquor increased by 32 percent from 2022 to 2023, while total alcohol sales grew by just 1 percent. As of early 2024, the top-selling beer at Whole Foods was nonalcoholic. This growth likely stems from increasing awareness of the health harms of alcohol and a rising interest in sobriety and moderation. One recent study found that health consciousness, curiosity and a desire to avoid the negative effects of alcohol (like hangovers)... ...the experts cautioned that a drink with less than 0.5 percent alcohol could still cause problems in some cases. For people with an alcohol use disorder, substituting nonalcoholic beer, wine or liquor could help them cut down on their drinking or stop completely, said Molly Bowdring, a postdoctoral scholar in clinical psychology at Stanford University. But these beverages could also serve as a trigger for relapse... Can they improve your health? Data suggest that over 80 percent of people who purchase nonalcoholic beverages also buy alcoholic ones. And as of 2022, NA products made up less than 1 percent of total alcohol sales. But if people are replacing some of their beer, wine or liquor with nonalcoholic versions, that can have a positive impact on health... That reflects what Athletic Brewing Company, the leading nonalcoholic beer brand, sees among many of its customers. “Where people maybe only drink on Friday and Saturday nights previously,” now they’re having a nonalcoholic beer “every night of the week with their dinner,” said Bill Shufelt, the company’s co-founder and C.E.O. The experts stressed there’s no evidence of any harm in doing that — it just raises the question of whether these beverages will have a positive impact on public health. “The growth of the category is interesting,” Dr. Naimi said. “But what really matters, the eye on the prize, is how it affects the total sale of alcohol. And I think that’s the million dollar question.” Credit: Dana G. Smith, The New York Times Source: https://lnkd.in/gDNC4-En Image: Oliver Munday

The non-alcoholic beer market is expanding rapidly as global drinking habits change. Driven by health trends, moderation, improved flavors, social acceptance, and accessibility, this sector has captured 3% of the global alcohol market, expected to grow to 31% by 2024. The market, valued at $22 billion in 2022, is forecasted to reach $38 billion by 2032. Heineken is a prominent player, available in 110 markets. Investors can tap into this growing market by regularly investing in top companies, in small, equal sums on a regular basis. https://lnkd.in/d3sa2iry

🍂 Sober October Wrap-Up: The No & Low Alcohol Movement 🍂 https://lnkd.in/gJKzzK2J As Sober October draws to a close, the beverage industry is witnessing a significant surge in the No & Low Alcohol segment, with major players leading transformative initiatives: Diageo: Reporting a 25% increase in no/low alcohol product sales, Diageo has led the way with “consumer-led innovation” through: Seedlip _ Acquired in 2019, this non-alcoholic botanical spirit appeals to those seeking complex flavors without the alcohol. Guinness 0.0 _ Launched in 2020, this non-alcoholic stout delivers the classic Guinness taste and targets beer enthusiasts wanting a low-alcohol option. Pernod Ricard: Emphasizing “freedom of choice,” Pernod Ricard has grown its non-alcoholic portfolio in response to a 60% rise in mindful drinking since 2020. Key brands include: Ceder's Drinks _ A non-alcoholic distilled spirit offering gin-inspired flavors. ALMAVE _ Co-created with Formula One’s Lewis Hamilton, Almave is a non-alcoholic agave spirit launched in 2023, providing a premium alternative to traditional tequila. HEINEKEN Beverages: Another leader in this space, Heineken has committed heavily to no/low alcohol with products like: Heineken 0.0 _ Launched in 2017, this alcohol-free beer combines the brand’s signature flavor with the benefits of no alcohol. It has grown rapidly, reaching over 50 global markets by 2024. Birra Moretti Zero _ Recently expanded from the European market, this alcohol-free Italian beer offers a refreshing, full-flavored option for those enjoying traditional flavors without the ABV. The strategic focus on non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beverages by these industry leaders underscores a broader shift towards mindful consumption. This trend is expected to redefine drinking occasions and consumer expectations in the coming years. Is your brand poised to embrace and capitalize on this evolving landscape? #SoberOctober #MindfulDrinking #NoAndLowAlcohol #BeverageTrends #CPG

I wanted to consider whether non alcoholic beer is actually a healthy choice. It's a question we're often asked, so we've written a blog post with a lot more information on the subject. You can tead it at drydrinker.com The short answer is that you need to look at the full picture - ingredients, carb content, calories and sugar in a drink, and naturally that varies from brand to brand. The definition of 'healthy' is also a broad one, and can vary according to your motivations. Overall, alcohol-free beer can be a healthier choice for those wanting to live a clean lifestyle. So if you're interested in trying something new check out our favourites. Cheers Stuart

Over the last 18 years in the alcoholic beverage industry, I have seen a lot of innovation and change in the products on the shelves. Multiple categories have emerged, receded, and, in a few instances, made a comeback: craft beer, hard seltzers, flavored malt beverages, ready-to-drink cocktails, non-alcoholic, and more. Will THC-infused drinks be the next big thing as consumers seek alternatives to alcohol? The hemp-based THC-infused drinks are not exactly new to the market, but they seem to be expanding rapidly in liquor and independent convenience stores here in Florida. On a recent trip to Total Wine, I discovered that three sections had been dedicated space to over 100 SKUs with flavors inspired by cocktails, soda, juices, hard seltzers, and fruit/herb combinations. I would assume even more brands will enter the state, especially with the failure of the state constitutional amendment. Ultimately, these brands must find ways to differentiate and connect with consumers to capture a larger share of sales to ensure long-term viability on the shelf.   The success of this segment is also dependent on the Farm Bill loophole and states not stepping in to prohibit the drinks. Minnesota, estimated to be a $200M market, chose to regulate THC beverages and create legal parameters like single-serving dosing limitations. Other states like California, where marijuana is legal for recreational use, have prohibited hemp-based drinks. I am curious to see what others think about the future of this segment. ❔ Will consumers make hemp-based THC drinks a regular part of their beverage consumption?   ❔If they do, how much will be sourced from Beer/Wine/Spirit occasions?

🍻 Explore the New Alcohol-Free Beer Flavored Drink — Refreshing, Healthy, Infinite Possibilities! 🌟 [Product Introduction] Welcome to join our big family and promote this revolutionary alcohol-free beer flavored drink together! Our product not only retains the foam and taste of traditional beer but is also alcohol-free, making it suitable for consumers of all ages. Whether you are a pursuer of a healthy lifestyle or need an alcohol-free beverage for any occasion, our drink is the perfect choice. 🌿 [Product Features]• Alcohol-Free: 0% alcohol content, suitable for after driving or any occasion that requires an alcohol-free beverage.• Low-Calorie: A new choice for a healthy diet, enjoy the delicious taste while maintaining your figure.• Diverse Flavors: A variety of flavors to meet the taste needs of different consumers.• Eco-Friendly Packaging: Made from recyclable materials to reduce environmental impact. 📈 [Market Potential] With the increasing awareness of health and changes in lifestyle, the market for alcohol-free beverages is growing rapidly. Our alcohol-free beer flavored drink, with its unique taste and healthy concept, is destined to become the new favorite in the market. 💼 [Partners We Are Seeking]• Distributors who are keen to develop in the alcohol-free beverage market.• Entrepreneurs with a deep understanding and passion for the healthy beverage market.• Businesses with a solid sales network and customer resources. 📅 [Take Action Now] Don't hesitate, join us immediately to explore the blue ocean market of alcohol-free beverages! Contact us for more information and start your journey to wealth.

Did you know that Brym Tumblers are versatile enough to work well with non-alcoholic beverages too? The low-alcohol drinks industry is growing fast and there are many new innovative products available. People are drinking less alcohol, but still want to enjoy a special drink. Brands are creating new low-alcohol beers and spirits that provide the same complexity and satisfaction as traditional drinks. Brym is a company that promotes these new drinks by offering reusable cups/tumblers with the brand's name etched on them. In 2014, Seedlip, a non-alcoholic gin-like drink, was introduced and it was only available in Selfridges for £35. However, today, many more affordable non-alcoholic spirits are available. Producers are creating non-alcoholic versions of vermouth, amaro, amaretto, and coffee liqueur, and the selection continues to grow. Brym offers a better visibility for these brands on shelves. Non-alcoholic beer has also improved in quality and visibility in recent years. When served in Brym cups, these drinks taste better as they maintain the perfect temperature. In the UK, anything under 0.5% alcohol is not restricted under licensing laws. Some products are labelled "low-alcohol" at 0.5%, rather than "alcohol-free." These products are unlikely to make you drunk, and some foods contain as much or more alcohol. We have tested a wide range of no and low-alcohol drinks including aperitifs, pre-mixed mocktails, and alternatives to beer, gin, and rum. All of the drinks tasted great when served in Brym cups. We followed the serving suggestions from the brands and sampled the drinks in various ways. Our testing criteria focused on sweetness, acidity, aroma, taste, mouthfeel, and lasting finish. In conclusion, there are many great-tasting low-alcohol drink options available. People are embracing non-alcoholic alternatives and drinking less. Brym is a perfect way to enjoy a satisfying drink while also promoting low-alcohol brands. Additionally, by using Brym's reusable cups, we can contribute to reducing landfill. 01726 256 890 | [email protected] | www.brym-uk.com