New research suggests that wider availability of alcohol-free draft beers in pubs and bars could prompt people to make healthier choices.
For various reasons, maybe fear of being judged by friends and colleagues, or just a lack of Alcohol– Advertised free options, many people may not choose the low or no alcohol route.
However, a new study from a British university Bristol Research has found that making drinks more visible and easier to purchase in pubs leads to an increase in non-alcoholic beer sales.
As part of the study, researchers from the university’s Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group, working with Bristol City Council, recruited 14 pubs and bars in Bristol, none of which had previously served alcohol-free draft beer.
The venues then completed two intervention and two ‘control’ periods at random over eight weeks – the first involved substituting a non-alcoholic alternative for draft beer, and the second it was business as usual.
Non-alcoholic beer in a pub in Dublin, Ireland. Image: PA
It found that when non-alcoholic beers were offered, pubs and bars sold an average of 29 liters less alcoholic beer per week, equivalent to 51 fewer pints of beer and a 5% reduction in sales.
However, this was replaced by an equivalent increase in alcohol-free beer sales, suggesting that customers are choosing healthier options.
Crucially, the study found there was no impact on profits, meaning the change did not make pubs and pubs worse off.
Alcohol can lead to weight gain and addiction, and is linked to seven types of cancer, including cancer of the mouth, upper throat, larynx, esophagus, breast and bowel.
this NHS says continued abuse of alcohol increases the risk of serious health problems, including heart disease, stroke and liver disease.
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Associate Professor Dr Angela Atwood, from the Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group, said although alcohol-free drinks had been around for some time, they didn’t have the same “visual impact” and were rarely available in bulk.
“Our research shows that offering non-alcoholic drinks in bars may lead some customers to abandon alcoholic beverages,” she said.
“This does not limit consumer choice; in fact, it increases customer choice while reducing alcohol consumption levels in the population and improving public health.”
Ivo Vlaev, professor of behavioral sciences at Warwick Business School, said that by “changing the choice architecture in bars and pubs – this study exploits a basic human bias towards simpler, more salient options”.
Researchers at the University of York say there is not enough data on consumer behavior around no- and low-alcohol drinks to suggest they are healthy alternatives to alcohol.
Matt Lambert, health information and promotion manager at the World Cancer Research Fund, added: “Like alcoholic drinks, the sugar and calories in non-alcoholic drinks can vary.
“That’s why choosing smaller sizes of beer is best for your health – so instead of a pint, opt for a bottle or half-pint.”
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