Amid Dry January, individuals opting for alcohol-free alternatives might unknowingly consume sugary beverages equivalent to more than two KitKat bars. For instance, a 500ml bottle of Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime Alcohol-Free contains a staggering 12.6 teaspoons of sugar, surpassing the five teaspoons in a standard 41.5g KitKat bar. Similarly, a 100ml serving of Kylie Minogue’s Alcohol-Free Sparkling Rose packs 1.25 teaspoons of sugar.
Health advocates raise concerns over the sugar content in these drinks, especially as approximately 17.5 million Britons are abstaining from alcohol this month. The NHS recommends limiting adult sugar intake to around seven teaspoons daily. Notably, Thatchers Zero Cider cans (440ml) contain six teaspoons of sugar, while Inch’s 0.0% Alcohol-Free Apple Cider has 6.5 teaspoons per 440ml.
Sonia Pombo from Action on Salt and Sugar warns against replacing alcohol with high sugar content, noting the potential risks to public health and consumer confusion. Nutritionist Paul Evans points out that a single bottle of alcohol-free Kopparberg surpasses the daily sugar limit, highlighting the negative impact of consuming liquid sugar in these alcohol-free beverages.
Tam Fry of the National Obesity Forum cautions that while low alcohol content might seem beneficial in the short term, the hidden sugars in such drinks can lead to adverse effects in the long run. Manufacturers of these beverages were contacted for their comments on the matter.