"Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations often used to result in a hangover the next day, but with moderation now the order of the day the new drinks industry buzzword is coasting. This involves choosing a white wine, lager or even a cocktail that is about half the strength of the traditional version of the drink meaning you can have the same number of drinks without feeling the worse for wear."
"As the name implies, mid-strength drinks occupy the middle ground between no and low-alcohol (nolo) and standard options. There is no firm industry definition yet, but the beers and ciders are about 2-3% alcohol by volume, wines 3-9% and spirits 15-20%. The advent of coasting chimes with data showing Britons drinking less alcohol than before. The average UK adult consumed 10.2 alcoholic drinks a week in 2024, according to the latest figures from the drinks industry data company IWSR."
Coasting means choosing drinks roughly half the strength of traditional versions to enjoy similar quantities with fewer aftereffects. Mid-strength beers and ciders are typically 2-3% ABV, wines 3-9% and spirits 15-20%. Average UK alcohol consumption fell to 10.2 drinks per week in 2024, the lowest since records began, indicating more cautious drinking rather than greater abstention. Ocado reported a 4,000% sales increase for mid-strength wines in 2025 and expanded ranges with brands such as La Felicite rose (9%), Nice Session sauvignon blanc (3.4%) and Quarter Proof gin (15%). Retail searches for non-alcoholic aperitifs like Botivo and Mother Root also rose.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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