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Low and no alcohol beer is quickly becoming one of the most exciting and innovative categories, writes beer expert and Cicerone Denise Garland.
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here’s no denying it – consumers are increasingly choosing to change their drinking and eating habits, whether that be for health, environmental or economic reasons. New Zealand’s beer sector is seeing that change too; beer consumption was down ever-so-slightly last year, with Stats NZ reporting the volume of beer sold fell 0.3% to 292 million litres in 2021. But that data also shows the volume of beer 2.5% ABV and under rose for the first time in five years to 7.9 million litres. While low- and no-alcohol beer is the smallest segment of the market, it is the one seeing the largest growth by far – particularly the alcohol-free segment (comprising beer under 1.15% ABV), which rose a whopping 177% in 2021 to 2.77 million litres. Chris Anderson, Head of Deli, Bakery, 30 THE SHOUT NZ – MAY 2022
Chilled, Beverages and Liquor at Foodstuffs North Island, says they are definitely seeing an increasing demand for zero alcohol beers in New World supermarkets. “While zero alcohol beers are still a very small portion of overall beer sales by value, they’ve seen big growth over the last year – up nearly 40%,” he says. “The latest figures (to March 27, 2022) show that, for the first time, zero alcohol beer is outgrowing and outpacing low alcohol beer.” Anderson says New Zealanders are now making conscious decisions to change their alcohol drinking habits. “It’s clear that customers are continuing to look for lighter and healthier alternatives in their alcohol choices, and suppliers are meeting the demand with more and more innovative creations coming onto shelves.” Traditionally, the low and no alcohol beer segment has been filled by international
Denise Garland is a journalist and a Certified Cicerone with with a love of all things beer. She has been writing about beer for a decade and was the winner of the 2019 Brewers Guild Beer Media Award. She has previously worked in hospitality in Christchurch, Wellington and Edinburgh. Denise home brews – though not as often as she’d like – and has been a judge in several home brew and commercial beer competitions.