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| Why does alcohol-free beer cost the same as alcoholic beer? | |
| (6 days later) | |
| Chris Butcher believes people should drink a product depending on the taste quality, rather than the pricing | Chris Butcher believes people should drink a product depending on the taste quality, rather than the pricing |
| At first glance a non-alcoholic beer looks like a normal pint - the same colour, same glass and often has a similar taste. | At first glance a non-alcoholic beer looks like a normal pint - the same colour, same glass and often has a similar taste. |
| But the zero and low alcohol beverage sector is one that has "boomed" in popularity across the UK in 2024 and according to global drinks data company IWSR, is a market that could be worth up to £800m in 2028. | But the zero and low alcohol beverage sector is one that has "boomed" in popularity across the UK in 2024 and according to global drinks data company IWSR, is a market that could be worth up to £800m in 2028. |
| For brewers, the process of creating alcohol-free products can be tough and more expensive to make than higher alcoholic products. | For brewers, the process of creating alcohol-free products can be tough and more expensive to make than higher alcoholic products. |
| So, with another year of growth expected for the no and low alcohol beverages category, are they really worth the price for both producers and consumers in 2025? | So, with another year of growth expected for the no and low alcohol beverages category, are they really worth the price for both producers and consumers in 2025? |
| Process and costs for breweries | Process and costs for breweries |
| When you hear the term "alcohol-free", you may assume less alcohol means fewer ingredients, and fewer ingredients means less cost. | When you hear the term "alcohol-free", you may assume less alcohol means fewer ingredients, and fewer ingredients means less cost. |
| Ben Wood, a brewer from Thornbridge Brewery in Bakewell, Derbyshire, said the process to craft alcohol-free beers is not so simple. | Ben Wood, a brewer from Thornbridge Brewery in Bakewell, Derbyshire, said the process to craft alcohol-free beers is not so simple. |
| "It costs more to produce an alcohol-free beer because it involves more processes, more technology, more time and more ingredients," he said. | "It costs more to produce an alcohol-free beer because it involves more processes, more technology, more time and more ingredients," he said. |
| Some alcohol-free pints are brewed just like regular beers, using the same grains, hops, yeast, and fermentation process, which is the case at Thornbridge. | Some alcohol-free pints are brewed just like regular beers, using the same grains, hops, yeast, and fermentation process, which is the case at Thornbridge. |
| Dom Driscoll, also a brewer at the Derbyshire firm, said they use less malted barley to get a lower alcohol percentage but use more hops to make the alcohol-free beer taste better. | Dom Driscoll, also a brewer at the Derbyshire firm, said they use less malted barley to get a lower alcohol percentage but use more hops to make the alcohol-free beer taste better. |
| "We use the same equipment but we use it in a different way," explained Mr Driscoll. | "We use the same equipment but we use it in a different way," explained Mr Driscoll. |
| "Over the last few years we have developed our own method to create our low alcohol beer, everybody does it in a different way." | "Over the last few years we have developed our own method to create our low alcohol beer, everybody does it in a different way." |
| Dom Driscoll said non-alcoholic beers can often be the same price or slightly less expensive than regular beers, and can be more expensive for smaller companies | Dom Driscoll said non-alcoholic beers can often be the same price or slightly less expensive than regular beers, and can be more expensive for smaller companies |
| Chris Butcher, manager at Shiny Brewery in Derby, said he uses the same ingredients to create his alcohol-free beers, which also take the same time to make as his regular brews. | Chris Butcher, manager at Shiny Brewery in Derby, said he uses the same ingredients to create his alcohol-free beers, which also take the same time to make as his regular brews. |
| "We use water, malted barley, wheat, hops and yeast in a three-week brewing process," said Mr Butcher. | "We use water, malted barley, wheat, hops and yeast in a three-week brewing process," said Mr Butcher. |
| Bigger breweries, such as Heineken, tend to use methods such as vacuum distillation, which requires costly technology, to produce palate-pleasing non-alcoholic beer. | Bigger breweries, such as Heineken, tend to use methods such as vacuum distillation, which requires costly technology, to produce palate-pleasing non-alcoholic beer. |
| This process reduces the atmospheric pressure, lowering alcohol's boiling point and allowing the beer to be heated to a warm temperature to retain taste while evaporating the alcohol. | This process reduces the atmospheric pressure, lowering alcohol's boiling point and allowing the beer to be heated to a warm temperature to retain taste while evaporating the alcohol. |
| But because alcohol is removed, there is still a lower concentration of flavour compounds. | But because alcohol is removed, there is still a lower concentration of flavour compounds. |
| "Rather than cook the alcohol out of the beer with high temperatures or strip it via strict filtration, we use a very specific yeast that doesn't like to make a lot of alcohol - less than you'd find in a ripe banana," added Mr Butcher. | "Rather than cook the alcohol out of the beer with high temperatures or strip it via strict filtration, we use a very specific yeast that doesn't like to make a lot of alcohol - less than you'd find in a ripe banana," added Mr Butcher. |
| "The skill is in controlling this fermentation process to get a true, close to beer fermented flavour without the alcohol." | "The skill is in controlling this fermentation process to get a true, close to beer fermented flavour without the alcohol." |
| The operational costs at Shiny Brewery "remain the same" whether they make a product with or without alcohol. | The operational costs at Shiny Brewery "remain the same" whether they make a product with or without alcohol. |
| "The only saving between the two would be the beer duty costs, which range between 30-40p a can," said Mr Butcher. | "The only saving between the two would be the beer duty costs, which range between 30-40p a can," said Mr Butcher. |
| "However, the additional cost of processing alcohol-free products will take up more than half of this." | "However, the additional cost of processing alcohol-free products will take up more than half of this." |
| A pint of 4.5% Shiny Brewery lager wholesales at £2.10, with 22p profit for the brewer, and costs 4p less with ingredient costs. | A pint of 4.5% Shiny Brewery lager wholesales at £2.10, with 22p profit for the brewer, and costs 4p less with ingredient costs. |
| A 0.3% alcohol-free pint wholesales at £1.90, yielding a higher profit of 30p with lower tax and zero duty costs. | A 0.3% alcohol-free pint wholesales at £1.90, yielding a higher profit of 30p with lower tax and zero duty costs. |
| The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) said brewers are making on average two pence per bottle of alcohol-free beer, with pubs making an average of 12p per pint. | The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) said brewers are making on average two pence per bottle of alcohol-free beer, with pubs making an average of 12p per pint. |
| "I hope people choose to drink things because they taste good and they have choice as that is a good thing, not because they are simply cheaper without the alcohol", said Mr Butcher. | "I hope people choose to drink things because they taste good and they have choice as that is a good thing, not because they are simply cheaper without the alcohol", said Mr Butcher. |
| "I think a good analogy would be decaffeinated coffee. Should it be automatically cheaper despite it having undergone an additional processing step?" | "I think a good analogy would be decaffeinated coffee. Should it be automatically cheaper despite it having undergone an additional processing step?" |
| Sales and rising popularity | Sales and rising popularity |
| In 2023, more than 120m pints of no and low alcohol beers were drunk across the UK, with BBPA statistics estimating sales could rise by a further 20m by the end of 2024. | In 2023, more than 120m pints of no and low alcohol beers were drunk across the UK, with BBPA statistics estimating sales could rise by a further 20m by the end of 2024. |
| Data released ahead of the 2025 Dry January challenge found 15.5m people planned to not drink for the entire month. | Data released ahead of the 2025 Dry January challenge found 15.5m people planned to not drink for the entire month. |
| Motivations for this included for participants' health, better sleep and to save money. | Motivations for this included for participants' health, better sleep and to save money. |
| This research also points to differences in attitudes and approaches to alcohol between generations. | This research also points to differences in attitudes and approaches to alcohol between generations. |
| Alcohol Change UK said around 30% people in the UK who drank alcohol in the last six months report becoming more concerned about the long-term damage drinking may have on them. | Alcohol Change UK said around 30% people in the UK who drank alcohol in the last six months report becoming more concerned about the long-term damage drinking may have on them. |
| These concerns are highest among the 25-34 age group (43%) and lowest among those aged 55 and above (18%). | These concerns are highest among the 25-34 age group (43%) and lowest among those aged 55 and above (18%). |
| Steve Kirk said he has three alcohol free options inside his pub in Derby city centre | Steve Kirk said he has three alcohol free options inside his pub in Derby city centre |
| Steve Kirk, owner of the Neptune pub in Derby, said buying alcohol-free products costs the "exact same price" as higher percentage products. | Steve Kirk, owner of the Neptune pub in Derby, said buying alcohol-free products costs the "exact same price" as higher percentage products. |
| "The fact we have to sell it at the same price as regular alcohol is not a great incentive for people to chose an alcohol-free alternative," he added. | "The fact we have to sell it at the same price as regular alcohol is not a great incentive for people to chose an alcohol-free alternative," he added. |
| "If it was cheaper to buy, then we would of course reduce the sale price. I sell about 10 cans a week, so until the price comes down, I won't be buying more stock." | "If it was cheaper to buy, then we would of course reduce the sale price. I sell about 10 cans a week, so until the price comes down, I won't be buying more stock." |
| Amit Gill, 24, from Derby, said: "The price would put me off if I'm being honest. If it was cheaper I think it would be more attractive to people." | Amit Gill, 24, from Derby, said: "The price would put me off if I'm being honest. If it was cheaper I think it would be more attractive to people." |
| Clare Wragg said more people are becoming aware of the impact of drinking too much alcohol | Clare Wragg said more people are becoming aware of the impact of drinking too much alcohol |
| Clare Wragg, 55 and from Derby, said she loves to drink a 0.0% stout and a 0.0% spiced rum when she is planning to drive when going out with friends. | Clare Wragg, 55 and from Derby, said she loves to drink a 0.0% stout and a 0.0% spiced rum when she is planning to drive when going out with friends. |
| "I can understand why it is priced the same as regular alcohol drinks because of the process to make it," said Ms Wragg. | "I can understand why it is priced the same as regular alcohol drinks because of the process to make it," said Ms Wragg. |
| "People have to make a profit and yes it would be nice if it was cheaper, but it tastes really good. | "People have to make a profit and yes it would be nice if it was cheaper, but it tastes really good. |
| "If you get something that tastes good as a normal drink, why not pay the same price?" | "If you get something that tastes good as a normal drink, why not pay the same price?" |
| Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. | Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. |
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