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Non-alcoholic beer and low-alcohol beer are a trend among drinkers who choose a healthier lifestyle or don’t want to get drunk

  • The worldwide growth in non-alcoholic beer sales is part of a healthy lifestyle trend, especially among young people
  • Breweries around the world are releasing alcohol-free beers to cater for the trend towards moderation, and their quality gets better all the time

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Non-alcoholic beers are becoming more popular, and breweries are stepping up to meet the demand.

Alex Metcalfe started experimenting with non-alcoholic beer about five years ago. Originally from Britain, he lives in Hong Kong’s Sai Kung district with his wife and two small children, and is a teacher in a Hong Kong school. 

“I started drinking non-alcoholic beer because I wanted to reduce my alcohol intake,” he says. “If you’re going on a night out, or round to somebody’s, it’s an option. You don’t have to go down the public drunkenness route.”

Drinking full-strength beer, wine and mixed drinks was once considered the norm around the world, but a shift in attitude has been under way for some years.

People around the world are trying teetotalism, beginning with booze-free months such as Dry January. 
More people around the world are reducing their consumption of full-strength beer. Photo: Getty Images
More people around the world are reducing their consumption of full-strength beer. Photo: Getty Images
Unwilling to endure painful hangovers or provide fuel for social media sniggers via revealing shots of drunkenness, younger drinkers are trying different options, such as alcohol-free beer and cocktails. 

Baby boomers, too, reaching an age when it becomes essential to maintain fitness and health, are forgoing big boozy evenings and embracing moderation.

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