Here
at BeClink, we promote a healthy and fun life for everyone. For us, choosing to
live without alcohol plays a critical role in this lifestyle. Whether someone
lives alcohol-free due to their season of life, addiction concerns or they
simply want to be healthier, we want to support their decision by providing a
variety of different non-alcoholic beverages to choose from. As recent trends
suggest, other people believe the same. Over the past few years, non-alcoholic
beverages have grown in popularity significantly, as people put down alcohol
and choose a healthier alternative.
While
there are many different options for non-alcoholic beverages—e.g. water, sports
drinks, soda, etc—one of the fastest growing industries are non-alcoholic
alternatives.
Digital Journal states, “An alcohol-free or
non-alcoholic drink is a version of an alcoholic drink made without alcohol, or
with the alcohol removed or reduced to zero.” According to
Beverage Daily, “The market for
non-alcoholic wine and beer is growing in the U.S., Europe and around the
world…” By the year 2024, the non-alcoholic wine and beer market is set to
witness increase by a 7.6% compound annual growth rate.
There’s
no doubt about it: non-alcoholic beverages are growing rapidly in their
popularity around the world. But why? Many sources cite the increased health
consciousness of upcoming generations, such as Millennials and Generation Z.
The Upsider states, “With Millennials
and Gen Z drinking less booze than the generations that came before them, many
manufacturers, pubs and bars—including some of the world’s top
establishments—are developing drinks with flavour, depth and sophistication to
cater to them.” As more and more consumers seek a healthy alternative to some
of their favorite alcoholic beverages, companies and bars are meeting this
demand and providing drinks everyone can enjoy.
When
it comes to health reasons, Millennials and Generation Z might be onto
something. When compared with its alcoholic counterpart,
studies have shown alcohol-free beer
to exhibit boosted antioxidants, increased Vitamin B6 and even slower blood
coagulation. All of these can help prevent significant heart conditions. Not to
mention, alcohol-free beer and wine boast fewer calories, which often lead to
obesity and other heart issues.
There’s
also the added bonus of inclusivity. Alcohol-free beverages are safe to drink
for pregnant women, recovering alcoholics and those unable to consume alcohol
because of health or religious reasons. As upcoming generations value the
morality of inclusivity, non-alcoholic beverages become more popular because of
their availability for everyone.
And
of course, there’s the price point. While people choose not to drink for a
myriad of reasons, financial can be a top cause. Alcohol is often an expensive
choice. However, by avoiding alcohol and choosing a healthier alternative,
consumers can save money now… and later. Not only are non-alcoholic options
often cheaper, but because of their added health bonus, they can save on
medical bills in the long run.
According
to the
IWSR, statistics from 2017 showed
the volume sales of alcoholic beverages in the U.S. declined for the second
consecutive year. The younger generations are those making this move away from
alcohol. As Millennials and Gen Z take their place in society, they establish a
unique cultural shift. This shift involves choosing healthier options,
including others and spending money differently. All of these can be found in
the shift toward non-alcoholic beverages. More restaurants are adopting
alcohol-free alternatives, companies are selling different options and even
friends and family are bringing new beverages to their get togethers.
Generations shift cultures and cultures shift societies, making alcohol-free
the next popular beverage.
Recent
statistics and studies show the growing popularity of non-alcoholic beverages,
the why behind the trend and the response from producers across the world. As
more and more consumers seek a healthier lifestyle, alcohol-free beverages are
there to meet the demand. The next question, then, is: will you give
alcohol-free wine and beer a chance? Try them out for yourself to see what you
think and how these healthier, cheaper, more inclusive options can fit your
lifestyle.