A low-alcoholic beer start-up in Australia is raising funds as it looks to tap into the steep growth of the low-ABV drinks sector. After strict lockdowns across the country, people have emerged with a greater interest in cutting down on alcohol without forgoing the ritual of drinking with friends.

Across Australia, the popularity of alcohol-free drinks is increasing, as people look to healthier habits as a result of the pandemic. With greater variety in non-alcoholic options, Aussies are recognising not only its high quality taste but also its positive effects on their physical and mental health.

From the way they buy their alcohol to the quantities in which they consume it, Australians’ drinking preferences are evolving. As COVID-19 re-shapes the behavioural landscape both temporarily and in the longer term, how can Aussies’ desires be better fulfilled in the moment and beyond?

Alcohol consumption may be declining Down Under, but more than two-thirds of Aussies still consider a drink with mates to be a great national tradition. Can low- and no-alcohol beers provide an adequate substitute for booze? And what constitutes a beer-drinking experience without the beer?