Club Soda Launches Survey on Britain’s Low-Alcohol Drinks

Club Soda has launched what it says is the first benchmarking survey of Britain’s low-, no- and mid-strength drinks sector, in an effort to give producers and retailers a direct role in shaping future government policy on labeling and definitions.

The survey, which is open to brands across the category, comes as ministers prepare to review what counts as alcohol-free and whether low- and no-alcohol products should be treated in the same way as alcoholic drinks for purposes such as age checks. The move follows the government’s pledge in its NHS 10-year health plan to tackle harmful drinking by introducing new standards for alcohol labeling while also supporting growth in the no- and low-alcohol market.

The issue has become politically sensitive because of suggestions that some alcohol-free drinks could be handled more like alcoholic products at the point of sale. That idea has drawn criticism from parts of the industry, which argues that products with little or no alcohol should not automatically face the same restrictions as beer, wine and spirits. Club Soda said that without coordinated input from producers, retailers and other stakeholders, the category risks being defined without the people who know it best.

Laura Willoughby, the co-founder of Club Soda, said the sector needed to engage now because decisions made this year could shape how alcohol-free and mid-strength drinks are produced, marketed and sold in Britain for years to come. The organization said the survey will gather information on market size, the category’s current contribution to the British economy and its growth potential, in response to questions from DEFRA.

The timing reflects how quickly the category has expanded. A report published late last year found that 49% of young people were choosing low- and no-alcohol drinks to moderate their drinking, up from 28% in 2018. The same data showed that between 2018 and 2025, consumption of no-alcohol drinks rose from 18% to 31%, while low-alcohol drinks increased from 25% to 33%.

Club Soda is asking low- and no-alcohol brands to complete the survey by April 24 as policymakers weigh changes that could affect labeling rules, retail practices and age-verification requirements across the sector.