For most of us, when we go out with friends, we want to feel part of the crowd and importantly, share similar experiences. We don’t want to be the odd one out, whether it’s sharing a bottle of Prosecco or all having pints of lager. Whether we want to admit it or not, we’re influenced by our surroundings and those that we’re with. 

In the past, if you were going out, but chose not to drink, the spotlight was on you. 

Not only was your choice of drink limited, usually a CSD, but you also had to justify your choice of drink to your friends. This might not feel like a big deal, but it was. The drinking experience was different - your glass was different, the colour of your drink was different, you were different.  

So, what did we do? We had a Coke and probably wished we’d stayed at home. Or we nursed our one alcoholic drink over several rounds, drank very weak shandy (it looked like larger), or asked for tonic water in a gin glass – that way no one knew there was no alcohol involved.  

Fast forward to the present day. What a turn around. It’s unusual to go to a pub and not find at least one NoLo alcoholic offering, especially if you’re a ‘beer’ drinker. It’s not niche, but mainstream brands. We can be part of the tribe. We can participate in that drinking moment. And importantly, many brands taste like the real thing. Cheers!  

For wine, we may need to wait a little longer...