Are non‑alcoholic drinks healthier than the real thing?

Non-alcoholic drinks have boomed over the last five years – in popularity and variety. From spirits and wine to beer and cider, there's more choice than ever before.

Their appeal seems obvious: you can enjoy the taste of your favourite drink without risking a hangover. But there's more to it than that.

Sales of low-alcohol and alcohol-free drinks doubled between 2020 and 2023, and there's no sign of the trend slowing.

The surge could be down to a few things, like changes in attitudes to alcohol. Then there's the fact that, let's be frank, non-alcoholic versions of pub favourites just taste better than they used to.

But let's not forget that people are far more tuned in to their health now, too. Lots of people buy these drinks because they see them as 'healthier' than alcoholic versions.

Mintel actually carried out research that showed between 15% and 20% of consumers, external saw health benefits as part of the appeal of alcohol-free drinks.

But aside from helping us swerve the headaches and nausea of a hangover, are these drinks actually healthier for us than the real deal?

"I would caution against assuming all drinks that are labelled in this way have no alcohol," says Dr Caomhán Logue, senior lecturer in dietetics at Ulster University. "The recommendations by government do allow for some."

Drinkaware says, external that drinks labelled as 'alcohol free' could potentially contain 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV), while 'low-alcohol' drinks can include up to 1.2% ABV.

Alcohol has seven calories per gram, external.

So, as Bridget Benelam from the British Nutrition Foundation points out, "You'll have less calories in a non-alcoholic beer versus an alcoholic one."

"But they still contain some calories and, depending on the type of drink, they may also be sugary."

"Chronic excessive alcohol consumption over a long period of time can result in damage to the liver," Logue notes. "If you remove alcohol from the equation, you're not having that impact."

Yet, he draws attention to excessive consumption of free sugars. These are any sugars which are added to food or drinks, plus sugars in syrups, honey, nectars and unsweetened fruit juices, vegetable juices and smoothies.

He warns there's a risk of consuming too much free sugar from alcohol-free alternatives to things like alcopops.

"If they're drunk in excess, that can still result in damage to the liver, I would suggest."

Logue says it's possible to see how red wine with greatly-reduced alcohol content could have the potential to assist health issues such as cardiovascular disease risk, external (in light of polyphenols).

Benelam notes that some non-alcoholic beers may contain B vitamins, external, but stresses that non-alcoholic drinks wouldn't generally be considered a primary source of nutrients.

"When you're looking at nutrients and getting nutrients in your diet, it's all about a healthy, balanced variety of foods," she says.

And it's key to remember the risks of consuming too much fluid and sugar, as well as the fact that acidic drinks can weaken tooth enamel and encourage decay.

Originally published July 2024. Updated February 2026.

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