Pubs should start serving more non-alcoholic drinks on tap to help reverse the UK's health crisis, experts have said.
A trial study which put the alternative beverages at the front of the bar found they were more popular than expected among drinkers - and even encouraged some people to switch-up their orders. Working with the local council, researchers from the University of Bristol's Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group (TARG) recruited 14 pubs and bars across the city, who agreed to change the drinks that they offered on draught for a limited period.
To test whether people were interested in the beer, the participating pubs and bars alternated between an an alcohol-only draught selection, and one which also featured a non-alcoholic drink. This was done twice over a period of eight weeks, and the order in which it happened was randomised.
Researchers then measured the amount of alcoholic and alcohol-free beer sold, as well as the total takings behind the bar, across the different periods. It was found that when an alcohol-free option was available, the equivalent of 51 pints less alcoholic beer was consumed every week. Crucially, this was replaced by an equivalent increase in sales of alcohol-free beer, suggesting customers were simply selecting a different option.
There was no net impact on overall takings, meaning that the change did not hurt the pockets of pub landlords - and allowed drinkers to try a healthy option. The scientists said more visible presence of the drinks could 'nudge' people towards making healthier decisions, while still providing plenty of options for those who want a normal beer.
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On the study research team from Bristol’s TARG, said: "Although alcohol-free options have been available for a while in pubs and bars, they have not had the same visual prominence as alcoholic drinks and are rarely served on draught. "Our study showed that providing front-of-bar draught non-alcoholic options could lead to some customers switching from alcoholic drinks. This does not restrict consumer choice, in fact it increases the options available to the customer, and at the same time could reduce population levels of alcohol consumption and improve public health."
A report by the Public Accounts Committee last year found that estimated 10 million people in England regularly exceed the Chief Medical Officers' low-risk drinking guidelines of more than 14 units per week, including 1.7 million who drink at higher risk and around 600,000 who are dependent on alcohol. The NHS says that persistent alcohol misuse increases the risk of multiple serious health conditions, including heart disease, stroke and liver disease.
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