Waitrose's adding more non alcoholic drinks

Brie

Waitrose makes major change in stores across the UK (msn.com)

In this article it explains that Waitrose is reacting to the demand for more non alcoholic drinks by adding space in it's "alcohol" department for non alcoholic beer, wine and spirits.  Furthermore the article states "Waitrose noted 99 per cent of UK shoppers buy alcohol free drinks" the implication being that you, me and the vast majority of our friends and neighbours buy 0% gin or .5% beer (what we used to refer to as near beer where I grew up - tasted a bit like beer and could be sold to minors.)

Now frankly I would agree that 99% of us buy alcohol free drinks but that's because we buy milk, coke, lemonade, juice not that we are buying de-alcoholised booze.  And I suppose that there is very likely a 1% of the population that never buys milk, coke etc or booze of any sort and only buys herbal tea or something.

Does anyone know of any proof for these numbers??

maman

Can't help you with statistics but there's definitely a move towards more 'near beers' and the like. 

Just this week I was in a pub and they'd produced a special menu card for non alcoholic cocktails and other drinks like gin. 

I have tried Gordon's non alcoholic gin and the taste is good but, considering it won't have the duty on it, it's very expensive. I suppose they'd put it down to research and development costs. 🤔

Brie

Well I suppose the proof of their stats will be whether they maintain the increased sale area.  If it gives them a profit great.  But if it doesn't attract enough sales they will, no doubt, go back to stocking more scrumpy or prosecco.

twopenny

Coop was selling Raspberry Cordial now. I was tempted as the ingredients sound good and it could look like wine .

I admit to thinking about trying non alchoholic wine or beer but it's not displayed well and trying to find it here is tough. Big profit on Hens & Stags most of the year so I doubt Tescos et al will follow suit.

Wonder if they go as well with crisps/olives etc.

Brie

@twopenny
is the raspberry cordial sugar free and full of sweeteners?  or just nice old sugar?  I hate sweeteners but nice cordial is difficult to find.

twopenny

Brie, it was aspartame I believe.

That put me off - and it was in the reduced basket!

It is the sweetness of most drinks that I can't tollerate. I may give it a go if it's still there..........can't find the ingredients online but something like 12% raspberry, 8% apple.

pumpkin89

The MSN article misquotes the actual press release, which says:

"Over the past year, Kantar data showed 99% of UK shoppers buying alcohol-free drinks also buy alcohol. Separate Kantar research found that nearly half of UK adults (47 per cent) are switching between alcohol and low and alcohol-free drinks at the same occasion, and two fifths (40 per cent) of adults say they want to moderate their drinking."

IMO that is far more believable!

Brie

pumpkin89 said:

The MSN article misquotes the actual press release, which says:

"Over the past year, Kantar data showed 99% of UK shoppers buying alcohol-free drinks also buy alcohol. Separate Kantar research found that nearly half of UK adults (47 per cent) are switching between alcohol and low and alcohol-free drinks at the same occasion, and two fifths (40 per cent) of adults say they want to moderate their drinking."

IMO that is far more believable!

Yes that makes perfect sense!  If I was having a party I'd be buying wine, beer etc and may very well buy something 0% for those who want to party but have to drive home.  It's amazing how switching the context around can completely change the meaning and distort the research results.