Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): Colruyt and Delhaize two Belgian supermarket chains are experiencing a sharp increase in the sales of non-alcoholic beers precisely as we enter 2024. This growth is partly attributed to improved flavors but also considering the rise of health cognizance amongst individuals. The issue of normalizing beer drinking during parties and other social events has always been an unaddressed matter.
Alcohol-free beer is reportedly selling like hotcakes in supermarkets. At Colruyt 13% more non-alcoholic beer was sold during the first half of 2024 than the previous year. Non-alcoholic beer sales at Delhaize increased by 40% over the same period. The typical perception of non-alcoholic beer is an ordinary one said Bart Hoeyberghs general secretary of the Belgian Brewers Association speaking to VRT News. It was simply normal beer with the alcohol taken out he explained adding that there are now methods available to preserve its flavor. In this way new tastes have been produced that made them more pleasurable hence people enjoy them better.
Is the rise of non-alcoholic beer reshaping Belgium’s drinking culture?
Lots of people prefer alcohol-free beer due to the fact that they are aware that alcohol is not good for health and they would like to stay healthy. It is not only a question of health problems. There are more types of non-alko beer and the quality has also risen. Nowadays in Belgium more people will opt for non-alko beer compared to regular pils. Specialties still remain trendy. Now large and small brewing companies and microbreweries in Belgium offer non-alcoholic versions of their beers. The Flemish Centre for Expertise on Alcohol and Other Drugs is satisfied with the increasing sales of alcohol-free beer. They still caution against making it a regular drink on all occasions. The Centre has been advocating for the banning of beer commercials including non-alcoholic beer. They say that giving children and teenagers alcohol-free beverages will probably create a less strong reaction when offered alcohol in the future.
