Exploring Adolescents’ Consumption of Alcohol-Free and Low-Alcohol Drinks: A Review of the Literature and a Drinking Profile Analysis

Margot Peeters; Jet Ter Braak; Fenna Hagemeijer; Carmen Voogt; Inge Kersbergen; John Holmes; Laura Fenton; Sebastian Kurten; Martine Groefsema; Margreet de Looze

doi:10.1007/s11469-025-01515-0

Exploring Adolescents’ Consumption of Alcohol-Free and Low-Alcohol Drinks: A Review of the Literature and a Drinking Profile Analysis

Margot Peeters
, Jet Ter Braak
, Fenna Hagemeijer
, Carmen Voogt
, Inge Kersbergen
, John Holmes
, Laura Fenton
, Sebastian Kurten
, Martine Groefsema
, Margreet de Looze

Department of Psychology

University of Utrecht
Trimbos Institute, Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction
Sheffield Addictions Research Group
University of Sheffield
Radboud University Nijmegen

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Non-alcoholic and low-alcohol (NoLo) beverages are increasingly popular among adolescents, raising concerns about their potential gateway effect on alcohol use. This study combines a mapping review of the literature and an analysis of the Dutch Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) study (N = 4746, mean age 13.74). The review identified three studies on NoLo prevalence (18.35–31.8%, all in Eastern populations) and two on parental attitudes. National data revealed that 46% of Dutch adolescents aged 12–16 had tried NoLo beverages, with 8% reporting weekly use. NoLo drinkers are overall more similar to non-drinkers, but exhibit characteristics like fewer peer problems and more hyperactivity similar to alcohol drinkers. NoLo use is most common among younger adolescents and those in pre-university tracks. Our findings highlight the need for nationally representative research on NoLo consumption in Western societies. Adolescents may use NoLo beverages to experiment with risk behaviors as an alternative to alcohol, driven by social conformity or a desire for new experiences.

Original language	English
Journal	International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-025-01515-0
Publication status	Published - 26 Jun 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2025.

Data Availability Statement

HBSC data used in this study is available upon request at the HBSC Data Management Centre. Scripts of data cleaning, and all analyses are publicly available at https://osf.io/5akh8/.

Funding

The HBSC study was supported by grants Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports. JH, IK and LF have received funding for ongoing, unrelated research on alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks from Alcohol Change UK (ACUK), which received 0.6% of its funds in 2024-5 from Lucky Saint, an organisation that produces and sells non-alcoholic drinks, and owns a pub that sells standard alcoholic drinks. In March 2025, Lucky Saint became an associate member of The Portman Group, a UK self-regulatory organisation that is fully funded and controlled by the alcohol industry. ACUK has a strict policy of not accepting any funds from, nor being subject to any influence whatsoever from, the alcohol industry, including through its investment portfolio. ACUK has confirmed that it is in full compliance with this policy. At the time of publication, the JH and IK were discussing their response to these developments.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Adolescents
Alcohol
NoLo beverages
Risk profile
Substance use

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Psychiatry and Mental health

Access to Document

10.1007/s11469-025-01515-0Licence: CC BY

Cite this

Peeters, M., Ter Braak, J., Hagemeijer, F., Voogt, C., Kersbergen, I., Holmes, J., Fenton, L., Kurten, S., Groefsema, M., & de Looze, M. (2025). Exploring Adolescents’ Consumption of Alcohol-Free and Low-Alcohol Drinks: A Review of the Literature and a Drinking Profile Analysis. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-025-01515-0

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abstract = "Non-alcoholic and low-alcohol (NoLo) beverages are increasingly popular among adolescents, raising concerns about their potential gateway effect on alcohol use. This study combines a mapping review of the literature and an analysis of the Dutch Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) study (N = 4746, mean age 13.74). The review identified three studies on NoLo prevalence (18.35–31.8\%, all in Eastern populations) and two on parental attitudes. National data revealed that 46\% of Dutch adolescents aged 12–16 had tried NoLo beverages, with 8\% reporting weekly use. NoLo drinkers are overall more similar to non-drinkers, but exhibit characteristics like fewer peer problems and more hyperactivity similar to alcohol drinkers. NoLo use is most common among younger adolescents and those in pre-university tracks. Our findings highlight the need for nationally representative research on NoLo consumption in Western societies. Adolescents may use NoLo beverages to experiment with risk behaviors as an alternative to alcohol, driven by social conformity or a desire for new experiences.",

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Exploring Adolescents’ Consumption of Alcohol-Free and Low-Alcohol Drinks: A Review of the Literature and a Drinking Profile Analysis

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Data Availability Statement

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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Cite this