2025 was a record-breaking year for the sale of no and low-alcohol beer
Mark James pictured with a pint of Stella Artois 0.0 at The Boot Room in West Bridgford(Image: Joseph Raynor/Nottingham Post)
A Nottingham bar owner has been “shocked” by the popularity of non-alcoholic beer since putting it on draught for Christmas amid a surge in sales across the country.
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) says 2025 has been the most successful year on record for the sale of no and low-alcohol beer, with the trade association predicting 200 million pints will have been sold by the end of December.
That would be an increase of almost 20% on 2024’s figures and would mean the sector now represents 2.7% of the UK’s total beer market.
Mark James runs The Boot Room bar and eatery right by the City Ground and around the start of December, the venue began serving zero-alcohol Stella Artois on draught.
Mr James said: “We put it in four weeks ago and even over the festive period, we were averaging a keg a week, so obviously there is the market for it.
“I’ve noticed, especially on match days, that there are more people than you think drinking non-alcoholic beer. I was shocked by how many people were drinking it.
“It’s a product owned by Budweiser and they come in and clean weekly to make sure there is no build-up of yeast and fermentation in the lines to make sure it remains a zero-alcohol product.
“In years to come, you’ll see a lot more people drinking it. It’s got a lot of legs.”
Adam “Relic” Wood is the senior promotions manager at Rock City and reflecting recently on the venue’s 45th anniversary, he said non-alcoholic beer’s popularity was part of a broader shift in what people want from a night out.
He said: “I think people’s expectations have changed in general in terms of what they deem acceptable for a drink from the bar.
“The offering is now large. We have seven or eight premium lagers on the tap.
“We have five different non-alcoholic beers in the fridge. We have something for everyone in the fridges and I imagine back in the eighties, it was probably light beer or dark beer.”
The BBPA has said that key to the growth of non-alcoholic products will be changing its definition from the current one of an ABV content not exceeding 0.05%.
The government said in July that it would consult on changing the definition to 0.5%, bringing the UK into line with Europe and the US.
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA, said: “The pub has always been about more than getting a drink and it is inspiring to see so many people choosing to moderate whilst still celebrating the occasion this festive season.
“No and low beer has become one of the sector’s greatest success stories and its growth shows just how well our industry reacts and responds to emerging trends.
“That is why the government must recognise the importance of empowering people to make those choices. Updating the definition of alcohol free to 0.5% ABV would unlock new investment, bring us in line with international markets and give customers more options when they want to moderate.”