Millennials and Gen Z are consuming less alcohol than previous generations did at the same age.
According to a 2023 Gallup poll, alcohol consumption among people ages 35 and younger is down 10% from two decades ago.
While experts attribute this decline in drinking among younger people to multiple factors, including economic events and social media, the trend has also spurred an uptick in the formulations and sales of nonalcoholic beverages. From beer, wine and liquor companies, to restaurants that never sold alcohol in the first place, food and beverage businesses continue to add zero-proof options to their inventories and menus.
While limiting alcohol is always a healthy choice, Hoag Addiction Treatment Centers’ Chief of Service Steven R. Ey, MD, DFASAM, shared that when it comes to consuming these nonalcoholic drinks, there are some important aspects to consider—especially for those seeking to eliminate alcohol from their lives entirely or in addiction recovery:
A beverage labeled “alcohol free” can still trigger cravings
For those who struggle with alcohol addiction, various sounds—the snap of a can or the pop of a cork—tastes, and rituals can spark a desire to drink. Making this scenario even more challenging is the fact that the zero-proof beer a recovering alcoholic is holding is a replica of the real beer they used to drink.
“For someone in recovery, this is flirting with disaster,” said Dr. Ey. “It activates the mindset of, ‘Wow, I’m holding a beer. It doesn’t really have alcohol in it, but it looks like and has the same name of the beer I love, and I know what that means to me.’ So, it does put a person at risk for relapse.”
Be mindful of misleading marketing tactics— “nonalcoholic” doesn’t always mean “alcohol free”
Though plenty of products on the market today are touted as nonalcoholic, it’s important to read the fine print. The Food and Drug Administration currently defines a nonalcoholic beverage as consisting of 0.5% alcohol by volume or less.
“A lot of these products are not 100% free of alcohol because technically, they don’t need to be,” said Dr. Ey. “If you’re looking for a liquor brand that offers truly nonalcoholic products, pay close attention to the percentage of alcohol by volume listed on each label, which should read 0.0%.”
When in doubt, choose club soda
Though consuming nonalcoholic beverages is a healthier alternative to regular beer or wine, nonalcoholic labels on cans and bottles often prompt annoyingly invasive questions from others at social gatherings. Despite more people drinking less, the need to pry hasn’t abated, making a situation for anyone skipping alcohol rather uncomfortable.
“I often tell patients that if you’re at an event where people are drinking alcohol and getting pushy about why you’re not, pour a can of club soda into an opaque cup,” said Dr. Ey. “That way the drink in question is out of the equation and no longer a current or potential topic for discussion.”
A final thought…
While nonalcoholic beer or wine could be convenient options for those looking to drink less, those in addiction recovery should consider other alternatives—and there are many. Juice, carbonated beverages and water products are all viable options that don’t carry the weight of an alcohol content statement on the packaging.
If you or someone you know is struggling with an alcohol addiction, please call our team at 949-764-6883.
