Non-alcoholic beer sheds its stigma

Oktoberfest will soon draw all eyes on Germany, with the beer tents opening tomorrow (September 16). But as global consumers’ interests and lifestyles shift, it may be lighter beer that’s filling the steins this year. New research from Mintel reveals that over one quarter of German consumers (27 percent) agree that low/no alcohol beer tastes just as good as full-strength beer. While younger consumers may have been the most enthusiastic beer drinkers in previous generations, today, this cohort is among the most likely to see the merits of low/no alcohol beer: three in 10 Germans aged 18-24 (31 percent) agree that low/no alcohol beer tastes just as good as ‘regular’ beer (4-6 percent ABV).

Just 9% of Germans say they would be embarrassed to be seen drinking low/no alcohol beer.

With many consumers enjoying the taste of non-alcoholic beer, the stigma may now be disappearing. Mintel research highlights that a mere 9 percent of German consumers say they would be embarrassed to be seen drinking low/no alcohol beer.

“As health and wellness trends influence alcohol consumption more and more, consumers are being drawn towards moderate beer options and the stigma of drinking low and no alcohol beer is being challenged,” said Jonny Forsyth, Global Food & Drink Analyst at Mintel. “Looking to the future, the global beer market will see even more moderate innovation as Millennials, in particular, seek healthier and less calorific beer options. This goes hand-in-hand with a number of brands working to raise the quality of the product, especially non-alcoholic beers. The German market is producing high quality, non-alcoholic beer and, as a result, it has now become a mainstream option. German beer drinkers may not have a history of moderation, but this is changing.”

This Oktoberfest it seems many will be opting for a low/no alcohol beer in order to forgo the hangover. Among German consumers, over half (53 percent) agree there is “less chance of getting a hangover if you drink low/no alcohol beer, rather than full strength (4-6 percent ABV).” This rises to three in five French consumers (61 percent).

But it’s not just the hangover that consumers are keen to steer clear of; over half of consumers in France (56 percent) agree that low/no alcohol beer allows you to stay in control when drinking.

“Control has become a key watchword for today’s younger drinkers. Unlike previous cohorts, their nights out are documented through photos, videos and posts across social media where it is likely to remain for the rest of their lives. Over-drinking is therefore something many seek to avoid,” added Forsyth.

29% of beers launched in China in 2016 contained low/no alcohol.

Consumption of non-alcoholic beer is growing fast, with as many as 33 percent of Spanish, 23 percent of German and 9 percent of French consumers drinking this variety. However, while European interest is high, China is the most prolific global innovator of low/no alcohol beer* product launches, according to Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD). More than one in four (29 percent) beers launched in China in 2016 contained low/no alcohol, compared to one in 10 beers launched in Spain (12 percent), Germany (11 percent) and Poland (9 percent). Meanwhile, the global average sits at just 8 percent.

Mintel research highlights that the Middle East and Africa may be a hotbed for low/no alcohol beer launch activity in the coming years. According to Mintel GNPD, almost one third (30 percent) of beer launches in the Middle East and Africa contained low/no alcohol in 2016, up from 22 percent in 2015.

“The amount of global innovation of low and no alcohol beer remains very limited, despite plenty of activity in Europe and Asia Pacific. While China leads in non-alcoholic beer innovation, our research indicates that this is because Chinese consumers, in general, prefer less strong beer in terms of ABV, compared to the global market,” Forsyth continued. “There is a strong case for further non alcoholic beer growth potential in the Middle Eastern and Asian markets, especially those with a big Muslim population, such as Indonesia.”

When it comes to future product innovation it seems the majority of Germans have full faith in tried-and-trusted brands. According to Mintel research, over half of German consumers (56 percent) say they would trust their favorite brand to produce a good tasting low/no alcohol version.

“Our consumer research confirms the importance of brand trust in helping consumers to overcome the significant taste barrier. The success of non-alcoholic beer innovation in Germany offers lessons for what can work in other markets. German non-alcoholic beer producers have vastly improved production techniques, resulting in over half of German non-alcoholic beer drinkers agreeing that non-alcoholic beer tastes as good as a standard alcoholic beer,” Forsyth concludes.

*Low/no alcohol is defined as ABV below 3.5 percent

Press review copies of the research and interviews with Jonny Forsyth, Global Food & Drink Analyst at Mintel, are available on request from the press office.