The sales and availability of low- and alcohol-free drinks have risen sharply in the UK since 2020, and the UK government promotes the substitution of standard alcoholic drinks with these alternatives as a harm reduction tool, explain the researchers. But it's not clear to what extent the increasing supply of low- and alcohol-free drinks has contributed to reduction attempts, particularly among those who drink more heavily. It showed that the proportion of those reporting the use of low- and alcohol-free drinks to reduce their alcohol consumption increased significantly between 2020 and 2024. And the proportion using evidence-based options either alone or in combination with low- or alcohol-free drinks remained low, at around 10%, the responses showed. More information: Trends in use of alcohol-free or low alcohol drinks in attempts to reduce alcohol consumption in Great Britain, 2020-2024: a population-based study, BMJ Public Health (2025).