🔗 Share this article Could 'Coasting' the Perfect Way to Savor an Alcoholic Drink This New Year's Eve? The festive season and New Year's Eve celebrations frequently could lead to a hangover, but with temperance now the prevailing trend, the latest drinks industry popular phrase is “coasting”. This means selecting a white wine, lager, or even a cocktail that is approximately half the alcohol content of the regular version – allowing you can enjoy the equivalent amount of drinks without feeling the after-effects. The Rise of Mid-Strength Options By definition, “mid-strength” drinks occupy the middle territory between alcohol-free and low-ABV and full-strength options. While there is no firm industry definition yet, typical ABVs are: Beers and ciders: Around 2-3% alcohol by volume. Wines: Usually 3-9% alcohol by volume. Spirits: Often 15-20% alcohol by volume. This emergence of coasting corresponds to data showing Britons consuming less alcohol than before. The typical UK adult drank approximately 10.2 alcoholic drinks a week in 2024. This represents the smallest amount since records began in 1990 and is a decrease from a high of 14 weekly drinks 20 years prior. Interestingly total avoidance is stable, which indicates more mindful drinking habits are driving this trend. Shifting Drinking Culture and Consumer Demand Major supermarkets are tapping into the country's evolving drinking culture by stocking more mid-strength brands. These include options like a pink wine at 9%, a white wine at 3.4%, and a spirit at 15%, alongside alcohol-free alternatives. Web searches for nolo brands surged before the holidays. Popular queries have featured British non-alcoholic pre-dinner drinks inspired by Italian classics, as well as a spicy ginger aperitif. There is also considerable excitement around a new brew co-founded by a well-known actor. “People still want big flavours from nolo drinks,” commented an industry expert. “They want options beyond just spirit substitutes.” Sales of alcohol-free cocktails and wines in cans are also reportedly “flourishing,” leading to additional product ranges on shelves to satisfy this demand. The Mainstream Push and Consumer Behaviors To make mid-strength drinking “widely accepted,” a alliance of focused drinks brands has created a “alliance”. A poll of drinking habits found that: 21% of consumers are continuing to consume alcohol but having fewer drinks in total. 13% regularly “coast” through their evenings. 6% practice “alternating” – rotating between alcoholic, mid-strength, and alcohol-free drinks within the same occasion. “The way consumers consume alcohol is transforming,” said a strategy insight director. “While some are choosing alcohol-free alternatives, a growing segment is embracing mid-strength alcohol as the perfect balance.” This approach is described as enabling them to lengthen their social experiences without sacrificing on taste, quality, and overall experience.
The festive season and New Year's Eve celebrations frequently could lead to a hangover, but with temperance now the prevailing trend, the latest drinks industry popular phrase is “coasting”. This means selecting a white wine, lager, or even a cocktail that is approximately half the alcohol content of the regular version – allowing you can enjoy the equivalent amount of drinks without feeling the after-effects. The Rise of Mid-Strength Options By definition, “mid-strength” drinks occupy the middle territory between alcohol-free and low-ABV and full-strength options. While there is no firm industry definition yet, typical ABVs are: Beers and ciders: Around 2-3% alcohol by volume. Wines: Usually 3-9% alcohol by volume. Spirits: Often 15-20% alcohol by volume. This emergence of coasting corresponds to data showing Britons consuming less alcohol than before. The typical UK adult drank approximately 10.2 alcoholic drinks a week in 2024. This represents the smallest amount since records began in 1990 and is a decrease from a high of 14 weekly drinks 20 years prior. Interestingly total avoidance is stable, which indicates more mindful drinking habits are driving this trend. Shifting Drinking Culture and Consumer Demand Major supermarkets are tapping into the country's evolving drinking culture by stocking more mid-strength brands. These include options like a pink wine at 9%, a white wine at 3.4%, and a spirit at 15%, alongside alcohol-free alternatives. Web searches for nolo brands surged before the holidays. Popular queries have featured British non-alcoholic pre-dinner drinks inspired by Italian classics, as well as a spicy ginger aperitif. There is also considerable excitement around a new brew co-founded by a well-known actor. “People still want big flavours from nolo drinks,” commented an industry expert. “They want options beyond just spirit substitutes.” Sales of alcohol-free cocktails and wines in cans are also reportedly “flourishing,” leading to additional product ranges on shelves to satisfy this demand. The Mainstream Push and Consumer Behaviors To make mid-strength drinking “widely accepted,” a alliance of focused drinks brands has created a “alliance”. A poll of drinking habits found that: 21% of consumers are continuing to consume alcohol but having fewer drinks in total. 13% regularly “coast” through their evenings. 6% practice “alternating” – rotating between alcoholic, mid-strength, and alcohol-free drinks within the same occasion. “The way consumers consume alcohol is transforming,” said a strategy insight director. “While some are choosing alcohol-free alternatives, a growing segment is embracing mid-strength alcohol as the perfect balance.” This approach is described as enabling them to lengthen their social experiences without sacrificing on taste, quality, and overall experience.