Demand for low and non alcoholic drinks continues to rise as consumers stay dry beyond January, says Ocado.
Data shared with This Is Money shows that searches throughout January for alcohol alternatives were up significantly from the previous year.
Searches for low alcohol lager increased by 102 per cent between January 2023 and January 2024, while low alcohol red wine rose by 48 per cent.
Ocado says searches for low or no alcoholic drinks have soared since January 2023
Searches for non-alcoholic white wine soared 119 per cent while non-alcoholic drinks in general were up 40 per cent.
There has been a steady decline in the number of Britons drinking alcohol in recent years.
A recent report by hospitality research organisation KAM found 5.2million fewer UK adults drank weekly in 2023 than in 2021.
Young people are also increasingly moderating their intake, or shunning alcohol completely – with two in five aged under 25 saying they are non-drinkers.
There are now more alternatives than ever, and Ocado said it has increased its own range by a third over the past 18 months to cater to increased demand.
A survey commissioned by Ocado found that almost half of consumers plan to continue drinking alcohol alternatives beyond the end of January.
One in three said the increased choice had been a key factor in decreasing their alcohol intake.
Adnams Brewery told This Is Money that Ghost Ship 0.5 per cent, which it launched in 2018, now accounts for 26 per cent of sales of the ale.
Sales have surged so much it is now the second-best selling beer in its entire range, only behind the 4.5 per cent version of Ghost Ship.
Similarly, Guinness Zero has proved a hit with drinkers. Last summer, owner Diageo announced it would aim to triple production of its zero-alcohol brand in response to changing tastes.
The drink, which launched in 2021, is on course to account for 10 per cent of all Guinness sales in Ireland in the coming years.
It was also the top alcohol alternative drink for Ocado shoppers, with searches up 50 per cent year-on-year.
Sales of the product increased by 12 per cent over the period.
It was followed by Lucky Saint lager, the UK’s largest dedicated alcohol-free beer brand, and Beck’s Blue.
Overall low and no-beer volumes were up 23 per cent year-on-year, while low to no-cider increased 12 per cent.
Oscar Biggs, buyer for No/Low at Ocado Retail said: ‘Dry January used to mean moderation for a month before moving back into old habits, but this is no longer the case.
‘We’ve increased our range of no/low drinks by 21 per cent year-on-year, in response to customer demand for alcohol-free alternatives.
‘Sales of alcoholic products remain strong but the gap to no/low is closing, so we’re continuing to grow our range of both no/low alcohol and alcoholic beers, ciders, wines and spirits to ensure Ocado has something for everyone.’
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