The no-alcohol beer segment has more than doubled in sales at major liquor chains Dan Murphy’s and BWS in the past year, and is projected to be one of the bright spots for a downtrodden beer industry in Australia until 2024.

The sharp jump at liquor retailers has come off a very low base and experts say it is been triggered by a rethink of health priorities by some consumers since the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, and a heavy step-up in marketing budgets by big players including Heineken and Carlton & United Breweries.