Woolworths expands alcohol-free wine, beer and spirits

Woolworths is expanding a surprising range on its supermarket shelves in a response to an explosion in demand from shoppers.

It’s one of the biggest differences between Aussie supermarkets and stores overseas.

While booze is commonplace in supermarket aisles in other countries, you won’t find alcohol inside most grocery stores in Australia.

But Woolworths has increased its alcohol-free drinks range and it looks so much like the real thing, it might have you doing a double take.

While the supermarket has carried alcohol-free wines and beer for decades it has now increased its offering to more than 30 different products containing low or zero alcohol content.

Their range includes zero alcohol wines by McGuigan, plant-based spirit alternatives by non-alcoholic drinks company Seedlip as well as a range of non-alcoholic beer.

“Non-alcoholic beverages is a fast growing category in the drinks industry in Australia,” Woolworths beverage category manager Anthony Pipikios told news.com.au.

“This is a reflection of a broader trend, where 1 in 4 consumers are moderating their alcohol consumption and we expect this trend to continue.”

Woolworths is now stocking a huge range of alcohol free drinks. Picture: news.com.au.

Young Aussies embrace ‘mindful drinking’

There’s a growing demand for alcohol free options in Australia, with sales of non-alcoholic drinks increasing more than 83 per cent in the past year at BWS and Dan Murphy’s.

Last year Irene Falcone launched Sans Drinks, Australia’s first completely alcohol free liquor online store and bottle shop in Sydney’s northern beaches.

Ms Falcone stocks up to 400 different types of no alcohol wines, spirits and beer, telling news.com.au last month there is “overwhelming” demand for alcohol-free options.

“Ninety per cent of my customers are people who drink but are trying to drink less or less often and they’re using my drinks as a direct substitute,” she said.

University of Newcastle researchers Tamara Bucher and Melanie Pirinen said that cutting back on alcohol and embracing “mindful drinking” over binge drinking is the “new act of youth rebellion”.

“Over the past 15 years, alcohol consumption has decreased in Australia, from 10.8 litres per capita per year down to 9.4 litres, the lowest seen in 50 years. Similar trends have been seen globally,” they wrote for The Conversation.

“The reduction has been particularly stark for the younger age groups: the number of people in their 20s abstaining from alcohol increased from 8.9 per cent in 2001 to 22 per cent in 2019.”

Olivia Molly Rogers gave up alcohol in May and hasn't looked back. Picture: Instagram/Olivia Molly Rogers.

Model gives up drinking and embraces sobriety

Melbourne influencer and former Miss Universe Australia Olivia Molly Rogers is among those who are choosing to give up alcohol, telling news.com.au she decided to quit on May 1 after waking up with another bad hungover and anxiety over the night before.

While Ms Rogers doesn’t consider herself an alcoholic, her relationship with drinking was becoming uncomfortable.

“It would scare me, just how flat it made me (after a big night of drinking),” she said. “It wasn’t just for the day after, it would sometimes last for three days, that feeling of anxiety.”

Ms Rogers began noticing an almost immediate difference to both her mental and physical health after giving up alcohol.

“Within the first two weeks I could feel a difference in my workouts, my body just felt I suppose a bit stronger and more efficient,” she said.

Ms Rogers also gets less headaches and better quality sleep, as well as noticing a huge difference to her mental health.