More in the UK choose no & low-alcohol drinks at Christmas than in Dry January.

Though Dry January is known for alcohol-free resolutions, new data shows Christmas now leads in the switch to no and low-alcohol drinks.

While Dry January remains popular for cutting back on booze, Tesco reports that demand for alcohol-free options climbs even higher in December.

SHOP LOW ALCOHOL & 0% ALCOHOL: TESCO GROCERIES

The supermarket recorded its highest-ever sales of no and low-alcohol drinks in the four weeks before Christmas, with a 15% increase from last year.

Interestingly, this trend continues into Dry January, with Tesco seeing a 20% rise in demand for no and low-alcohol beverages.

Here’s the full breakdown:

No and low wine – demand up 15 per cent
No and low beer – demand up 10 per cent on Dry January 2024
No and low spirits – up nearly 5 per cent

Tesco Beer and Cider buyer David Albon said:

“It’s almost become trendy, especially in young people, to moderate at these key occasions of the year – something that is very much reflected in the rising demand we are seeing for no and low drinks at Christmas and for Dry January.

“And that’s a very different picture to what we were seeing, even just five years ago, when they main demand for no and low drinks came in Dry January.

“But there is a now such a strong consumer confidence in the quality of the no and low drinks available that demand also now surges during the summer months.”

Alcohol-free and low-alcohol beer saw the biggest growth last year, with shoppers now confident enough in the quality to purchase multi-packs instead of single cans or bottles—a 20% increase in volume compared to the previous year.

For the first time, the supermarket added Lucky Saint’s Alcohol-Free Beer to its Finest Club Card Meal Deal, and it quickly became a customer favourite.

Among the most popular no and low drinks during Dry January have been:

Corona 0.0% 12 pack – up by more than 250 per cent
Guinness 0% 10 packs – up by more than 100 percent
Gordon’s Pink Gin – demand up by 15 per cent on last year
Ready to Drink cocktails – up by more than 10 per cent

Drinkaware, an independent UK alcohol education charity which helps people make better choices about their drinking said that the growth in demand for no and low drinks in the last year was very positive.

Karen Tyrell, CEO of the charity Drinkaware said:

“It’s fantastic to see the strong demand for no and low-alcohol at Christmas, not just in January.

“Swapping out alcohol for a no or low alternative is fast becoming a popular choice all year round. Our research shows that more than 4 in 10 UK drinkers choose these options as a way to moderate their drinking.

“They also help you stay within the Chief Medical Officer’s low-risk guidelines of 14 units a week. To better understand the risks of your own drinking take the free Drinkaware Drinking Check on our website today.”

Trying no-alcohol and low-alcohol drinks over the festive period can be a great way to enjoy the festive season while reducing your alcohol intake with many different options now available.