Non-Alcoholic Beer Guide / Trends

A third of 16 to 24-year-olds now drink no alcohol

Young adults are the driest generation on record. What the surveys say, and what they drink instead.

Updated 8 November 2026By the Non-Alcoholic Beer Guide team

The Health Survey for England found 35% of 16 to 24-year-olds drank no alcohol in 2024, up nine points on 2022. Across all adults, 24% now abstain, up from 19%.

The rest are cutting down. Drinkaware says 91% of UK drinkers now use at least one technique to moderate, and 44% use low or no-alcohol drinks to do it, up from 31% in 2018. Research by Trip and Censuswide found 63% of Gen Z and 65% of Millennials planned to drink less in 2026.

What they drink instead

Gen Z and Millennials make up 67% of UK no and low-alcohol wine buyers, according to IWSR. In beer, IWSR says no-alcohol was the UK's fastest-growing no and low drink in 2024, up 20%, with premium brands making up two-thirds of the volume.

Our pick

IMPOSSIBREW Enhanced Lager

The premium end is where IMPOSSIBREW sits: the #1 alcohol-free beer on Trustpilot, as seen on Dragons' Den, with more than 4 million cans sold.

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Sources

• The Telegraph: one in three Gen Z do not drink alcohol
• BeverageDaily: Drinkaware urges brands to tap into moderation
• Grocery Gazette: one in three adults drinking less during a record Dry January
• IWSR: UK no-alcohol market key statistics and trends

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