In the pursuit of a healthier lifestyle, alcohol-free beer is becoming more and more popular among consumers.
According to CCTV reports, recent industry data and statements from beverage giants all indicate that alcohol-free beer, as a niche category, is gradually becoming a new consumption trend in the beer industry.
Data shows that the market value of non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beer has already exceeded $13 billion in 2023. Reports suggest that the younger generation of consumers are displaying a growing preference for either not drinking alcohol at all or only drinking moderately.
Edward Monty, a beverage industry analyst at the U.S. investment bank Jefferies Group, stated, "Young people still drink alcohol, but perhaps less frequently and with lower alcohol content. Young people may not necessarily enjoy the same drinks their parents do, showing intergenerational differences in the beverage industry."
"I believe sugary drinks are more popular among young people now," he added.
Typically, beer with an alcohol content of 3.5%-4% is considered regular beer, while beer with an alcohol content greater than 0.5% but less than 2.5% is known as low-alcohol beer, and beer with an alcohol content less than 0.5% is termed alcohol-free beer.
Alcohol-free beer is produced using traditional methods, with special processing techniques such as purification and flavor restoration added in the later stages of production. This allows the product to maintain its original taste while significantly reducing the alcohol content to only one-seventh to one-eighth of regular beer, hence also known as "non-intoxicating beer."
Due to its beer-like flavor and the advantage of being able to drink more without getting drunk, alcohol-free beer aligns with the current consumer trend of placing increasing importance on physical health. Moreover, it has great market development prospects due to the preference of women and men allergic to alcohol for low-alcohol beer.
