Is Buying and Drinking Zero and Low Alcohol Beer a Higher Socio-Economic Phenomenon? Analysis of British Survey Data, 2015–2018 and Household Purchase Data 2015–2020

Abstract

Zero and low alcohol products, particularly beer, are gaining consideration as a method to reduce consumption of ethanol. We do not know if this approach is likely to increase or decrease health inequalities. The aim of the study was to determine if the purchase and consumption of zero and low alcohol beers differs by demographic and socio-economic characteristics of consumers. Based on British household purchase data from 79,411 households and on British survey data of more than 104,635 adult (18+) respondents, we estimated the likelihood of buying and drinking zero (ABV = 0.0%) and low alcohol (ABV > 0.0% and ≤ 3.5%) beer by a range of socio-demographic characteristics. We found that buying and consuming zero alcohol beer is much more likely to occur in younger age groups, in more affluent households, and in those with higher social grades, with gaps in buying zero alcohol beer between households in higher and lower social grades widening between 2015 and 2020. Buying and drinking low alcohol beer had less consistent relationships with socio-demographic characteristics, but was strongly driven by households that normally buy and drink the most alcohol. Common to many health-related behaviours, it seems that it is the more affluent that lead the way in choosing zero or low alcohol products. Whilst the increased availability of zero and low alcohol products might be a useful tool to reduce overall ethanol consumption in the more socially advantageous part of society, it may be less beneficial for the rest of the population. Other evidence-based alcohol policy measures that lessen health inequalities, need to go hand-in-hand with those promoting the uptake of zero and low alcohol beer.

Impact on alcohol selection and online purchasing of changing the proportion of available non-alcoholic versus alcoholic drinks: A randomised controlled trial

“…The generalisability of these findings to disadvantaged populations therefore needs consideration, particularly as buying alcohol-free drinks is more likely to occur in less socially and materially deprived households. 16…”

“…This implies overall drink sales and potentially revenues may be relatively unchanged if such an intervention were to be implemented, albeit dependent on non-alcoholic drink pricing. Increasing non-alcoholic drink availability could also ultimately lead to a greater range of alcohol-free drinks and soft drinks being manufactured, further increasing their popularity in synergistic fashion 16 , and many alcohol companies have already committed to this 15 . It is important to note that because many alcohol-free alternatives are marketed by the alcohol industry, this involvement has potential harms and should be monitored closely [28][29][30] .…”

Are Lower-Strength Beers Gateways to Higher-Strength Beers? Time Series Analyses of Household Purchases from 64,280 British Households, 2015–2018

“…This could be a quality-assurance issue or may reflect how drinkers want to be seen by others ( Silva et al ., 2016 ). In absolute terms, it is important to point out, though, that nablab beers remain a minority interest and seem to be one for affluent and higher social status groups ( Anderson et al ., 2021b ).…”

“…We prepared the dependent variable to be consistent and comparable with other publications that have analysed the same data set (e.g. O’Donnell et al ., 2019 ; Anderson et al ., 2020 ; Anderson et al ., 2021a ; Anderson et al ., 2021b ; Jane Llopis et al ., 2021 ), by averaging the volume of beer purchases in millilitres by study day (as defined above) across all households, with the average being the mean of the sum of the volume of purchases per adult per individual household for any day of purchase. The interrupted time series tested for level and persistent changes due to the event, the introduction of the new nablab products.…”

“…Using British household purchase data, we have previously shown that buying no- (per cent alcohol by volume, ABV = 0.0%) and low- (ABV = >0.0% and ≤ 3.5%) alcohol beer is a relatively infrequent event ( Jané Llopis et al ., 2021 ; Anderson et al ., 2021b ). For every purchase of zero alcohol beer, there were 32 purchases of beer with an ABV of 3.5% or more, and for every purchase of low-alcohol beer, there were nearly 14 purchases of beer with an ABV of 3.5% or more ( Anderson et al ., 2021b ). We found that purchases of no- and low-alcohol beers were greater amongst younger and more affluent households and more common amongst those who bought the most alcohol overall ( Anderson et al ., 2021b ).…”