44% of young people in the UK say they prefer low or non-alcoholic drinks

Almost half of the UK’s young people prefer low alcohol, or non-alcholic drinks, according to a new survey.

In the The Portman Group’s sixth annual survey in partnership with YouGov, 18 to 24-year-olds have been labelled as the UK’s “most sober age group”, with 39% avoiding alcohol altogether.

44% of the age group consider themselves as either an occasional, or regular drinker of alcohol alternatives. A rise of 13% compared to 31% respondents answering the same way in 2022.

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According to the poll, low and non-alcoholic products have become an “important and normal part” of how the UK can moderate their alcohol intake — with 75% of UK drinkers having at least tried a low and no alcohol alternative.

23% of participates said that their general alcohol intake decreased when choosing low or no-alcohol drinks, up slightly from 2022’s 21%.

Portman Group chief executive Matt Lambert said: “It is welcome to see a further rise in the popularity of low and no-alcohol alternatives as well as further evidence of how they are an important tool to help UK drinkers, particularly younger adults, to drink responsibly.

“The availability of alcohol alternatives has never been more abundant and we eagerly await the outcome of the recent UK government consultation on low-alcohol descriptors, which we hope will further facilitate the growth of the UK low and no-alcohol market.”

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As we start the new year many people have taken up Dry January, the popular trend started by Alcohol Change U.K. where people stop drinking alcohol for the month.

Findings from Alcohol Change U.K. show that Dry January has seen 86% of participants save money, 70% of participants have better sleep and 66% have more energy.

Check out more information from the The Portman Group’s sixth annual survey in partnership with YouGov here.

Becky Buckle is Mixmag’s Multimedia Editor, follow her on Twitter