Irish Examiner View: Health warning plan for alcohol leaves a bitter taste

Proposals for finger-wagging health warnings on bottles of wine, beer, and spirits may not be neccessary in a country that is already adopting healthier alcohol-consumption habits.

Alcohol-free products such as Gordon's Alcohol Free 0.0% are becoming increasingly popular. Picture: PA Photo/Gordon's.

Growth in alcohol-free beers, lagers, and spirits is accelerating off the sales graph like a rocket, with every indication that this is a lasting change in consumer behaviour rather than a fad for “dry January” or other marketing spin designed to add impetus to an untapped market.

Sales in Ireland have more than tripled in the five years to 2022, while the market share for non-alcoholic beer has soared by 275%.