One in three Brits cut back on booze
A third of British adults who drink alcohol say they are consuming less than they did a year ago, as health-conscious consumers pivot towards moderation, according to new survey data.
The YouGov poll findings reveal that 33% of drinkers have reduced their alcohol intake over the past 12 months, compared with just 8% who say they are drinking more. A further 1% say they have stopped drinking alcohol altogether.
Most drinkers (58%) report that their alcohol consumption has remained unchanged over the past year.
Among those who have cut back on booze, the most commonly cited reason is simply a reduced desire to drink. Slightly more than half (51%) of respondents who are drinking less say this has contributed to their lower consumption.
Finance, family, health: the reasons people cut back
Financial pressures also appear to be playing a significant role. One third (33%) of those drinking less say they can no longer afford to drink as much as they previously did.
Health concerns are the third most frequently mentioned factor, with 29% of respondents citing worries about their wellbeing as a reason for reducing their alcohol intake.
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Other influences appear to be less widespread. One in ten (10%) say they have been encouraged to drink less because friends or family members have also cut back, while 8% say medication has affected their alcohol consumption.
The figures suggest that, while the majority of British drinkers have not changed their habits over the past year, a sizeable minority are choosing to drink less.
Zebra striping takes off
Recent data shows how growing moderation trends are changing the way people perceive no and low alcohol drinks. Data from KAM Insight and Athletic reveals that nearly half (48%) of drinks are ‘zebra striping’ (a trend which sees consumers alternate between alcoholic and alcohol-free drinks) when they visit the pub, with 56% of Brits believing alcohol-beer is becoming mainstream in the UK.
Last year, Club Soda founder Laura Willoughby MBE, who works to promote alcohol-free options to the trade and consumers, told db that alcohol-free beer should be sold for what it offers, not what it lacks.
It’s the philosophy behind Bunta Beer, the UK’s first non-alcoholic Indian craft beer, which announced its first draught listing last month.
“We’re positioning ourselves at the intersection of global craft, modern British identity, and the non-alcoholic movement,” the brewery’s founder Gunikka Ahuja told db. “The inspiration comes more from chefs and the way Indian food is evolving globally, rather than traditional beer brands.”
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