One in four young people go teetotal

Low2No is set to be one of the key trends of 2020 as almost one in four young people are now teetotal, new figures released in Society of Independent Brewers British Craft Beer Report.

With growing health consciousness as a key concern, the number of 18-24 year olds who have said they don’t drink has increase by 6% in the last year to 23%.

The report also found that across the generations, the overall number of people who never consume alcohol slightly increased to 17% (from 16%).

Growth in beer sales also slowed down, with a total sales increase of 1.1% compared to 2.6% previously, and growth in the craft beer category slowed to 0.2% during the period. Although, as demand for more premium products rises, value increased.

Half those surveyed said they felt that genuine craft beer must be produced by a small independent brewery – and 94% said the most important factor when choosing a pub was beer quality - however 27% wouldn’t be able to tell if it was made by an independent brewer or not.

Beer seemed to be more popular amongst slightly older consumers, as six in ten 35-44 year olds said they drink beer, compared with just 44% of those aged 18-24.

The number of women drinking beer is on the rise. The survey found that those drinking beer more than once a week rose to 11%, from 6% the previous year.

“This year’s report shows a drastically changing market place with consumers opting for no or low-alcohol options, particularly young people, and brewers quickly adapting to this challenge,” said Caroline Nodder, the report’s editor.

“It shows the dexterity of small independent breweries and I think we’re going to see even more growth in this area over the next 12 months as people become more health-conscious. Community is also increasingly important for consumers and this has really helped with the growth in brewery taprooms, which have created a vital revenue stream in a market that’s extremely tough.”