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Irish Examiner
18-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Zero and low-alcohol drinks: what you need to know
Slowly, steadily, we are reducing the amount of alcohol we consume as a nation. Recent data from the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) shows that alcohol consumption fell by 4.5% last year, continuing a welcome downward trend. Sales of booze-free and low alcohol — dubbed NoLo — beers and wines are booming as more of us make the switch to seemingly healthier drink choices. According to the Irish Beer Market Report, the demand for non-alcoholic beer alone grew by 18% in 2023-2024. The move to reduce alcohol intake is good news for our long-term health. But experts are questioning whether the NoLo market is as worthy as its manufacturers claim. 'Industry data shows that low- and no-alcohol drinks represent only about 1% of the market,' says Sheila Gilheany, CEO of Alcohol Action Ireland. 'They are portrayed as a public health solution to excessive alcohol consumption, but the World Health Organization has significant concerns over the marketing of the products and says that reduced or no-alcohol drinks don't deserve a health halo.' Others suggest that they are no better for us than conventional soft drinks, with many NoLo products being relatively high in sugar. Scientists from the US, Germany, and Spain recently warned that consuming just two small bottles of some low- or no-alcohol beers a day is enough to raise blood sugar levels and the long-term risk of type II diabetes and obesity. 'Non-alcoholic beers are gaining popularity as alternatives to alcoholic beverages, yet their metabolic and health effects, compared to no consumption of these drinks, remain unclear,' they reported in the Nutrients journal [ For the study, the international research team asked a group of 44 healthy young men to drink either two 330ml bottles of alcohol-free beer or water every day for four weeks. During the trial, the team conducted regular blood tests and other assessments to check for changes in glucose and lipid metabolism, liver enzymes, body composition, and the composition of the men's gut microbiome. The results showed that, compared to water, alcohol-free wheat beers and 'mixed beers' — a variety typically flavoured with soda — had 'an unfavourable metabolic impact on glucose and fat', which the team said was 'probably due to the caloric and sugar content' of the drinks. Lighter Pilsner-type, low-alcohol beers with a maximum 0.5% ABV, had a much less damaging impact. Pure alcohol contains around seven calories per gram — almost as many as fat — or about 56 calories per unit. Non-alcoholic drinks with an ABV of 0.5% or lower typically contain fewer calories than regular versions of the same drink, but they are not necessarily low-sugar or low-calorie options. In many cases, sugar is added to enhance flavour and palatability, significantly increasing the sugar content per bottle or glass. The Government recommends that adults limit their intake of added sugars to no more than 30g per day. Over one third of that upper limit would be reached with one 330ml bottle of Erdinger Alkoholfrei zero-alcohol beer, which contains about 11g of sugar. 'These drinks could be substitutes for some other soft drinks or consumed in addition to them, but they are an alternative not a better choice,' Gilheany says. 'Low- and no-alcohol drinks are not suitable for children or for adults in alcohol recovery, as they simulate the taste and flavour of alcohol.' Yet many of us can't get enough of low- or no-alcohol beers and wines. Here's what you get per glass or bottle in some of the popular NoLo products: GUINNESS ZERO 440ml can Guinness Zero Alcohol content: 0.0% ABV; Sugar: 0.7g per 100ml; 3.1g per can; Calories: 17 per 100ml; 75 per can. CARLSBERG ALCOHOL FREE 330ml bottle Carlsberg Alcohol Free Alcohol content: 0.0% ABV; Sugar: Less than 0.5g per 100ml; 1.5g per bottle; Calories: 19 per 100ml; 63 per bottle. BROOKLYN SPECIAL EFFECTS 330ml bottle Brooklyn Special Effects Alcohol content: 0.4% ABV; Sugar: 2.9g per 100ml; 9.5g per bottle; Calories: 29 per 100ml; 95 per bottle. LUCKY SAINT LAGER 330ml bottle Lucky Saint Lager Alcohol content: 0.5% ABV; Sugar: 0.1g per 100ml; 0.33g per bottle; Calories: 16 per 100ml; 53 per bottle. UNLTD IPA 330ml bottle UNLTD IPA Alcohol content: 0.5% ABV; Sugar: 0.1g per 100ml; 0.33g per bottle; Calories: Four per 100ml; 13.2 per bottle. PERONI NASTRO AZZURO 330ml bottle Peroni Nastro Azzurro Alcohol content: 0.0% ABV; Sugar: 0.8g per 100ml; 2.64g per bottle; Calories: 23 per 100ml; 75 per bottle. HEINEKEN 0 330ml bottle Heineken Zero Alcohol content: 0.0% ABV; Sugar: 1.3g per 100ml; 4.29g per bottle; Calories: 21 per 100ml; 70 per bottle. BREWDOG NANNY STATE 330ml bottle Brewdog Nanny State Alcohol content: 0.5% ABV; Sugar: 0.4g per 100ml; 1.32g per bottle; Calories: 6.0 per 100ml; 19.9 per bottle. BECKS BLUE 275ml bottle Becks Blue Alcohol content: 0.05% ABV; Sugar: 0.2g per 100ml; 0.6g per bottle; Calories: 14 per 100ml; 39 per bottle.; ERDINGER ALKOHOLFREI 330ml bottle Erdinger Alkoholfrei Alcohol content: Less than 0.5% ABV Sugar: 3.6 per 100g; 11.9 per bottle; Calories: 25 per 100ml; 82 per bottle. DAYS LAGER 0% 330ml bottle Days Lager 0% Alcohol content: 0.0% ABV; Sugar: 2.5g per 100ml; 8.25g per bottle; Calories: 22 per 100ml; 25.3 per bottle. PROPER JOB IPA 440ml can Proper Job IPA Alcohol content: 0.5% ABV; Sugar: 1.4g per 100ml; 4.62g per can; Calories: 22 per 100ml; 72.6 per can. ZEROZECCO SPARKLING WHITE WINE 750ml bottle Zerozecco Sparkling White Alcohol content: Less than 0.5% ABV; Sugar: 5.7g per bottle; 0.76g per 100ml; 1.33g per 175ml glass; Calories: 25 per 100ml; 43 per 125ml glass. NOUGHTY BLANC 750ml bottle Noughty Blanc Alcohol content: 0.5% ABV; Sugar: 2.1g per 100ml; 3.6g per 175ml glass; Calories: 17 per 100ml; 30 per 175ml glass. BIG DROP CITRIA IPA 330ml can Big Drop Citria IPA Alcohol content: 0.5% ABV; Sugar: Less than 0.5g per 100ml; 1.65 per can; Calories: 18.5 per 100ml; 61 per can. NOZECO 750ml bottle Nozeco Alcohol content: 0.5% ABV; Sugar: 5g per 100ml; 8.75g per 175ml glass; Calories: 20 per 100ml; 35 per 175ml glass. FREIXENET PRESECCO 750ml bottle Freixenet Presecco Alcohol content: Less than 0.5% ABV; Sugar: 5g per 100ml; 8.75g per 175ml glass; Calories: 20 per 100ml; 35 per 175ml glass. MCGUIGAN ZERO SAVIGNON BLANC 750ml bottle McGuigan Zero Sauvignon Blanc Alcohol content: Less than 0.5% ABV; Sugar: 4.2g per 100ml; 7.4g per 175ml glass; Calories: 24 per 100ml; 42 per 175ml glass. WEDNESDAY'S DOMAINE SPARKLING CUVEE 750ml bottle Wednesday's Domaine Sparkling Cuvée Alcohol content: 0.0% ABV; Sugar: 2.7g per 100ml; 4.7g per 175ml; Calories: 10.9 per 100ml; 19 per 125ml. MCGUIGAN ZERO SHIRAZ 750ml bottle McGuigan Zero Shiraz Alcohol content: 0.0% ABV; Sugar: 4.5g per 100ml; 7.8g per 175ml glass; Calories: 29 per 100ml; 50.7 per 175ml glass. Industry data shows that low and no-alcohol drinks represent only about 1% of the market See:
Irish Post
15-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Post
Two pubs closing each week in Ireland
OVER 2000 pubs have closed in Ireland in the last twenty years, according to a new report commissioned by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI). The study, by economist and DCU associate professor Anthony Foley, paints a bleak picture for the future of Irish pubs, especially in rural areas. From 2005 to 2024, the number of licensed pubs in Ireland dropped from 8,617 to 6,498, amounting to a decline of more than 25%. While closures have been widespread across all 26 counties, rural areas have been hit hardest. Counties like Limerick, Offaly, and Cork experienced the steepest drops, with decreases of 37%, 34%, and 32%, respectively. Meanwhile, Dublin saw the smallest decline at just 1.7%. The report underscores a troubling trend: the erosion of pubs in rural communities, where they often act as much more than just a place to drink. 'There has been a pattern of pub closures across Ireland, particularly in rural Ireland, in recent years,' said Professor Foley in the report. These pubs are frequently the heart of their communities, offering a vital social and cultural hub as well as a key attraction for tourism. According to DIGI Secretary Donall O'Keeffe, the primary reason behind these closures is the high costs imposed by the state, including taxes and regulatory burdens. Ireland currently has the second-highest tax rate on alcohol in the European Union, alongside a 23% VAT rate. These costs, coupled with rising operating expenses and falling rural populations, are making it harder for family-owned pubs to stay afloat. 'The addition of profound economic uncertainty through US trade tariffs and reduced levels of inbound tourism further threaten the financial foundations of family-owned pubs across the country,' said Foley. DIGI is calling for a 10% cut in excise duty in the upcoming budget to help ease the financial burden on pub owners. 'With Irish consumption of alcohol having fallen to average EU levels and likely to continue dropping, it is no longer justifiable that pubs should be faced with the second-highest excise rates in Europe,' said O'Keeffe. The report projects that between 600 and 1,000 more pubs could close over the next decade if nothing changes. See More: Anthony Foley, DIGI, Donall O'Keefe, Irish Pubs
Extra.ie
14-07-2025
- Business
- Extra.ie
Revealed: This is how many Irish pubs closed in the last 20 years
Over a quarter of Irish pubs have closed their doors since 2005, according to a report by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI). The research found that from 2005 to 2024, the number of publican licenses went from 8,617 to 6,498, with over 2,100 pubs having closed in total. DIGI has predicted up to 1,000 pubs to potentially close in the next 10 years. 'We are likely to see a further 600 to 1,000 pubs close over the coming decade,' said the report's author, Professor Foley. 'The addition of profound economic uncertainty through US trade tariffs and reduced levels of inbound tourism further threatens the financial foundations of family-owned pubs across the country.' The report, along with Economist and Associate Professor Emeritus at DCU, Anthony Foley, has found that an average of 112 pubs have stopped trading each year. The largest rate of closure was in rural countries, with the highest decreases at 37.2% in Co. Limerick, followed by 34.1% in Co. Offaly and 32.7% in Co. Cork. Limerick has experienced pub numbers dropping from 478 to 300 since 2005. The lowest decrease was in Co. Dublin at 1.7%, followed by 9.5% in Co. Meath and 10.8% in Co. Wicklow. DIGI secretary Donall O'Keefe has called on the government to cut excise duty by 10% in the upcoming budget, stating that the Irish consumption of alcohol has fallen to average EU levels, meaning there is no justification for the high rate. 'With Irish consumption of alcohol having fallen to average EU levels, and likely to continue dropping, it is no longer justifiable that pubs should be faced with the second-highest excise rates in Europe,' he said.
The Journal
14-07-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Ireland has lost a quarter of its pubs since 2005
OVER 2100 PUBS – or 24.6% of public houses in Ireland – have closed since 2005, a new report has found. It comes as research indicated a further 1,000 pubs could close over the coming decade. The Drinks Industry Group of Ireland's report shows a continuing decline of the number of publican licenses and the amount of pubs closing its doors. Between 2005 and 2024, the number of publican licenses went from 8,617 to 6,498. The report, compiled by Economist and Associate Professor Emeritus at DCU, Anthony Foley, shows that an average of 112 pubs stopped trading every year, with a further 600 to 1,000 closures estimated over the next decade. The average number of pub closures per year rose to 128 when measuring between 2019 and 2024. Advertisement Rural counties had the highest rates of closure. Limerick, Offaly, Roscommon, Tipperary, Laois, Longford, and Mayo all recorded closure rates of over 30% in the time period measured. Limerick had the largest amount of pubs close their doors. Over 37% of pubs in the county ceased business over the 19 years accounted for, Having had 478 pubs in 2005, it now has 300. The lowest decrease was in Dublin with a drop of -1.7%, going from 786 pubs in 2005 to 773. Meath had a decrease of -9.5%. Wicklow had a decrease of 10.8% and all other counties saw a 13% or greater decrease. According to DIGI, the high cost of doing of business was a major contributory factor to the alarming rate of closures recorded by the report. It said that without immediate action by the Government, 'many villages and small towns will soon lose their last remaining pub which would deal a devastating blow to the economic and social fabric of that community.' Commenting on the report, author Professor Tony Foley said that the addition of 'profound economic uncertainty through US trade tariffs' and reduced levels of tourism 'further threaten the financial conditions of family-owned pubs across the country. 'In the absence of government intervention, we are likely to see a further 600 to 1,000 pubs close over the coming decade.' DIGI secretary Donall O'Keeffe said that the government should cut the excise rate in the upcoming budget, saying that the Irish consumption of alcohol has fallen to average EU levels and there is no justification for the high rate. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Irish Sun
14-07-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Inside Ireland's pub industry's devastating decline as 2,100 boozers pull final pints amid VAT rate ‘act now' cut call
OVER 2,100 pubs have shut their doors permanently in the past 20 years, according to a shock new report. One in four have closed down since 2005 as the 2 Professor Anthony Foley found that an average of 112 pubs stopped trading every year The study, commissioned by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland, found that a massive 2,119 have pulled their final pints in that period. Compiled by Economist and Associate Professor Emeritus at DCU, Professor Anthony Foley, the research found that an average of 112 pubs stopped trading every year, with a further 600 to 1,000 closures estimated over the next decade. All 26 counties experienced declines in pub numbers between 2005 and 2024. The highest decrease was in Limerick, which has seen the numbers fall by 37.2 per cent, followed by READ MORE IN MONEY The lowest decrease was in DIGI said the high cost of doing business was a major factor to the alarming rate of closures recorded by the report. The group pleaded with the Government for help, warning that many villages and small towns will lose their remaining pubs, dealing a 'devastating blow to the economic and social fabric of that community'. MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN DIGI has urged the policy makers to use the upcoming Budget to introduce a 10 per cent cut in excise, which currently stands as the second highest in the Locals Heartbroken as Auchenmalg's Only Pub, The Cock Inn, Closes Down Commenting on the report, Professor Foley said: 'This report reveals a pattern of pub closures across Ireland, particularly in rural Ireland in recent years. 'The addition of profound economic uncertainty through 'In the absence of government intervention, we are likely to see a further 600 to 1,000 pubs close over the coming decade.' 'ACT BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE' DIGI secretary Donall O'Keeffe, who is also the CEO of the Licensed Vintner's Federation warned that the high VAT was also crippling pubs and urged the Government to act now. He said: 'More than 100 pubs are closing every year in Ireland, due in large part to the high costs imposed by the State. 'Without immediate intervention, up to 1,000 more pubs will close for the last time, leaving their communities without a vital community and tourism hub. Once closed, such pubs rarely re-open. 'The Government could improve commercial viability overnight by cutting excise by 10 per cent. "With Irish consumption of alcohol having fallen to average 'This is on top of a hefty 23 per cent VAT rate. The time for the Government to act is now before it is too late.' 2 All 26 counties experienced declines in pub numbers between 2005 and 2024 Credit: Getty
