0.0 alcohol beer option response to market demand

0.0 alcohol beer option response to market demand

The growing number of alcohol-free options in beer, wine and spirits is broadening the opportunities for Kiwis to make more moderate choices with their drinking, says NZ Alcohol Beverages Council Executive Director Nick Leggett.

“It’s a pleasure to congratulate Heineken for bringing their 0.0% alcohol* product to the New Zealand market. This will meet demand and demonstrates serious support for consumers world-wide who are demanding quality non-alcoholic choices.

“Such good-tasting options will support the fact that fewer Kiwis, particularly young people, are choosing to drink and choosing to drink to harm. However, we are all social creatures at the end of the day and you can’t remove millennia of cultural history where we want to get together and enjoy company over a drink.

“I suspect many of us still want to enjoy the taste of beer, but sometimes the setting just isn’t appropriate to enjoy alcohol, or people want to reduce their consumption.

“Kiwis clearly have a growing sophistication in their demand for low- and no-alcoholic beverage choices. This is reflected across the world, and Heineken 0.0 is both a response and an answer to that.”

Nick Leggett says DB Breweries should be congratulated for adding this option to their large low- and no-alcohol range in New Zealand.

"With only 69 calories per bottle it ticks a number of boxes.”

Ends

*Less than 0.05% alcohol by volume as part of the natural brewing process

Points to note:

• Alcohol consumption has reduced by 25% per capita in New Zealand since the 1980s.

• Younger people are choosing to drink far less than their parents and grandparents did, with binge drinking among them almost halving since 2000.

• Awareness around the risk of drinking during pregnancy is now 100% among those aged under 25.

• Heineken 0.0 does contain traces of alcohol (less than 0.05% alcohol by volume as part of the natural brewing process). The alcohol by volume amount is less than many popular packaged orange juice, ginger beer, and kombucha drinks that you can buy in stores.

• Ministry of Health guidelines suggest men should drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week and women no more than 10 units.

© Scoop Media