No alcohol free beer in pubs
Alcohol free beer? You've got to be kidding. It looks like it's really not cool to be tee-total in Britain. If you fancy an alcohol free night out and want to take the car there really isn't much to choose from at the pub when it comes to drinks. Where's the alcohol free beer? And how much are you charging me for that glass of coke?
Here in the UK we seriously have the wrong attitude to alcohol. You just have to turn on the TV or open a newspaper and you will be swamped with stories about binge drinking, drink driving and alcohol related violence. Drink driving is probably the main thing that constantly grabs the headlines and yet the industry and government stand by and watch without really doing anything useful to help.
I recently switched over to alcohol free beer myself and found that the local Tesco supermarket does Kaliber and Becks low alcohol at a very reasonable price. I just can't help thinking that if the pubs and clubs did the same, and offered those who just don't want to drink a reasonable low cost alternative to alcohol, that it could definitely go some way to help fix the alcohol related issues we face in this country.
Some of our pubs do cater for our friend DES! Unfortunately they have to pay dearly for the privilege of being responsible as the alcohol free beer is just as expensive, or in some cases, more expensive than the alcoholic equivalent. Not really likely to win over those who might consider staying sober, is it?
Kaliber Alcohol-free Lager = Hello, fair car-legal beer, OK?
Also, what about pregnant women, tee-totalers and people who have a medical condition which prevents them from consuming alcohol? Is diet coke and the odd OJ the best the local watering hole can offer? I think the government and alcohol industry need to pull their finger out and get a little more creative. In my opinion relaxing the licensing laws would be a step in the right direction, but some real alternatives and some good education is needed too.
Helping you stay alcohol free
Alcohol Free Beer at onlyfinebeer.co.uk
I've provided a link to the search results for alcohol free beer on this site. Very fast site and they have a good range of alcohol free beer. The prices look pretty reasonable too!
The Alcohol-Free Shop
The Alcohol-Free Shop exists to provide a wide-range of alcohol-free products including food, drink, health and beauty products and gifts. Eat, drink and live - Alcohol Free
Comments from visitors
Take a look at Spain, most bars are free houses and '00' and other sin alcohol beers are readily available. It's even available on draught in many places !!
Maybe Tony Blair as our envoy for enlightened change ?
Chris Cuesta - 30-Aug-12 15:05
Lidman - 4-Mar-12 23:57
It may or may not help. It has more chance of being successful if I can persuade more people to write on the same subject. If anyone feels inclined to do so, an easy way to write to him (or any Lord, MP or councillor) is at http://www.writetothem.com/
I wrote to encourage the government to incentivise the provision of free samples of alcohol-free beer and wine as a promotion. If all this achieves is a few pubs in most towns stocking a small variety to meet the needs of a small number of clientele, then it is at least a foot in the door, a step in the right direction. If you agree, please take the time to do something similar to improve the situation.
Hydie - 4-Mar-12 21:00
grumpyoldwoman - 16-Feb-12 07:32
Monkeytoes - 15-Feb-12 19:40
Friendly Advice - 6-Jun-11 17:12
I also found an alcohol free champagne which is 0.0% vol alcohol at www.mallinazero.com
Tastes just like the real thing!!!
Jerry - 19-May-11 14:09
A month later I booked a table for 12 people (a group of guys doing a hike as it happens) for lunch. We took our table, ordered our food, and a round of soft drinks. When the food was being put on the table, we ordered 12 low alcohol beers, were told they didn't serve them, got up and walked out and ate our packed lunches as we continued the hike.
They now stock and serve low alcohol beer.
I would be interested to hear from someone in the trade why there is such a negative attitude to low alcohol beer (apart from the fact that other than Becks Blue it is pretty awful!)
MikeP - 7-Apr-11 01:46
It really annoys me that there's an assumption that if you're not drinking alcohol, you'll want something sweet and/or fruity. Seriously, there are fruity sweet alcoholic drinks but the majority won't be drinking them - they'll have beer or wine. Why assume different for those avoiding alcohol?
It does come down to promotion. I dot really get why the drinks industry doesn't market them more. Typically they're beer companies and wouldn't be canabalising their one sales. The potential customer will either end up with something like a coke or mineral water. And as has been pointed out above, it's not like the profit margins are smaller on the low alcohol beers.
Maybe I should write to my MP or start a facebook group or something!
James - 6-Apr-11 21:21
Lindsey - 28-Feb-11 12:45
A really good beer.
Stu - 16-Dec-10 09:53
Mark - 10-Aug-10 17:11
beercat - 25-Apr-10 07:31
Someone driving who has had two or three pints of beer, should not be penalized for then later drinking non alcholic drinks instead of alcholic ones.
Gainsborough lad. - 25-Mar-10 20:43
NH - 25-Mar-10 19:35
See http://www.alcoholfreereview.com for details on what is available.
Graham - 23-Jan-10 21:23
John - 13-Jan-10 12:33
(also, sorry about the double post, that was an accident)
Clairey - 13-Jan-10 01:35
Clairey - 13-Jan-10 01:32
John - 12-Jan-10 11:23



