🔗 Share this article Is 'Coasting' the Ideal Method to Experience an Alcoholic Drink on New Year's Eve? Christmas and New Year's Eve gatherings frequently could result in a hangover, but with moderation now the prevailing trend, the latest drinks industry buzzword is “coasting”. This entails opting for a white wine, lager, or even a cocktail that is about half the strength of the regular version – meaning you can have the identical quantity of drinks without experiencing the worse for wear. The Emergence of Moderate-Strength Choices By definition, “mid-strength” drinks occupy the middle ground between no and low-alcohol (nolo) and full-strength options. While an official industry guideline yet, typical ranges are: Beers and ciders: About 2-3% alcohol by volume. Wines: Usually 3-9% alcohol by volume. Spirits: Commonly 15-20% alcohol by volume. This emergence of coasting aligns with data showing Britons consuming less alcohol than before. The typical UK adult consumed approximately 10.2 alcoholic drinks a week in 2024. This represents the smallest amount ever since records began in 1990 and is down from a high of 14 weekly drinks 20 years prior. Interestingly total teetotalism is not increasing, which suggests more cautious drinking habits are behind this change. Shifting Preferences and Consumer Demand Major retailers are responding to the country's evolving drinking culture by offering more mid-strength brands. These encompass options like a rosé at 9%, a white wine at 3.4%, and a spirit at 15%, alongside nolo alternatives. Web searches for non-alcoholic brands surged ahead of the holidays. Popular searches have featured British non-alcoholic pre-dinner drinks inspired by Italian classics, as well as a fiery ginger aperitif. There is also notable interest around a new brew launched by a well-known actor. “Shoppers still want big flavours from nolo drinks,” said an industry buyer. “They want options beyond just gin alternatives.” Sales of alcohol-free cocktails and wines in cans are also described as “booming,” leading to additional product listings on shelves to satisfy this demand. The Mainstream Move and Drinker Behaviors To make mid-strength drinking “mainstream,” a alliance of specialist drinks brands has established a “mid-strength collective”. A study of drinking habits revealed that: 21% of consumers are still drinking alcohol but having a reduced amount per occasion. 13% regularly “coast” through their evenings. 6% practice “zebra striping” – rotating between alcoholic, mid-strength, and alcohol-free drinks within the same event. “The way consumers approach alcohol is changing,” stated a strategy insight director. “While some are opting for alcohol-free options, a expanding segment is adopting mid-strength alcohol as the perfect compromise.” This approach is suggested to be allowing them to lengthen their social experiences without compromising on flavor, enjoyment, and the social ritual.
Christmas and New Year's Eve gatherings frequently could result in a hangover, but with moderation now the prevailing trend, the latest drinks industry buzzword is “coasting”. This entails opting for a white wine, lager, or even a cocktail that is about half the strength of the regular version – meaning you can have the identical quantity of drinks without experiencing the worse for wear. The Emergence of Moderate-Strength Choices By definition, “mid-strength” drinks occupy the middle ground between no and low-alcohol (nolo) and full-strength options. While an official industry guideline yet, typical ranges are: Beers and ciders: About 2-3% alcohol by volume. Wines: Usually 3-9% alcohol by volume. Spirits: Commonly 15-20% alcohol by volume. This emergence of coasting aligns with data showing Britons consuming less alcohol than before. The typical UK adult consumed approximately 10.2 alcoholic drinks a week in 2024. This represents the smallest amount ever since records began in 1990 and is down from a high of 14 weekly drinks 20 years prior. Interestingly total teetotalism is not increasing, which suggests more cautious drinking habits are behind this change. Shifting Preferences and Consumer Demand Major retailers are responding to the country's evolving drinking culture by offering more mid-strength brands. These encompass options like a rosé at 9%, a white wine at 3.4%, and a spirit at 15%, alongside nolo alternatives. Web searches for non-alcoholic brands surged ahead of the holidays. Popular searches have featured British non-alcoholic pre-dinner drinks inspired by Italian classics, as well as a fiery ginger aperitif. There is also notable interest around a new brew launched by a well-known actor. “Shoppers still want big flavours from nolo drinks,” said an industry buyer. “They want options beyond just gin alternatives.” Sales of alcohol-free cocktails and wines in cans are also described as “booming,” leading to additional product listings on shelves to satisfy this demand. The Mainstream Move and Drinker Behaviors To make mid-strength drinking “mainstream,” a alliance of specialist drinks brands has established a “mid-strength collective”. A study of drinking habits revealed that: 21% of consumers are still drinking alcohol but having a reduced amount per occasion. 13% regularly “coast” through their evenings. 6% practice “zebra striping” – rotating between alcoholic, mid-strength, and alcohol-free drinks within the same event. “The way consumers approach alcohol is changing,” stated a strategy insight director. “While some are opting for alcohol-free options, a expanding segment is adopting mid-strength alcohol as the perfect compromise.” This approach is suggested to be allowing them to lengthen their social experiences without compromising on flavor, enjoyment, and the social ritual.