Have you tried 'zebra striping'? How non-alcoholic beer is catching on
Reducing alcohol consumption would have significant effects – and not just on our health
People once scoffed at the idea of non-alcoholic beer. Now, it seems, we’re scoffing it down like never before.
According to an industry forecast, pubs across the UK will serve more than 64 million pints of no and low-alcohol beer this summer, up by eight million on last year. Since 2013, the total volume has increased by 870 per cent, making it the sector’s biggest growth story.
While some drinkers are having exclusively alcohol-free nights out, others are reducing the damage to their livers by what is apparently being called ‘zebra-striping’, with only every other drink being alcoholic.
Public Health Scotland has warned that Scotland “continues to face a significant alcohol problem, with adults who drink consuming an average of 21.6 units per week... more than 50 per cent above the Chief Medical Officers' safe drinking guidelines”.
So zebra-striping could perhaps be the answer, not just for the sake of our health as individuals, but to ease the burden on the NHS, boost the economy by reducing the number of people off-sick with alcohol-related conditions, and cut crime.
It even tastes like real beer now.
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