As the brewing industry is still recovering from the aftershock of the Covid-19 pandemic, alcohol-free beer has become one of the bright spots in a troubled beer sector. And while buzz-free beer still accounts for no more than 5 percent of global beer revenues, it has outgrown the alcoholic beer segment by a wide margin for the better part of the past decade, delivering double-digit growth in each but one of the past five years, with 2020 the only exception.
Having long been neglected by the industry, non-alcoholic beer is now viewed as an opportunity by brewers, which are continuously extending their selection of low and no-alcohol choices in response to growing customer demand. “Consumers are increasingly looking for healthy hydration and a tasty, adult refreshment with lower or no-alcohol content to enjoy on any occasion,” the world’s second-largest brewing group Heineken wrote in its latest annual report. “As this global consumer trend for health and wellness continues, we see a great future for low-calorie and non-alcoholic beer,” the report concludes.
As the following chart based on data from Statista’s Consumer Market Outlook shows, the non-alcoholic beer segment is poised for strong growth in the years ahead. Following a small setback in 2020 due to Covid-related lockdowns and lifestyle changes, the industry is back on track and expected to see strong double-digit growth this year and in the years ahead. By 2025, Statista expects global sales of non-alcoholic beer to approach $50 billion, double the 2020 figure.
