Is ‘coasting’ the perfect way to enjoy an alcoholic drink this New Year’s Eve?

Key Highlights

• In 2025 its sales of these types of wines soared 4,000% as the nascent category gained ground. 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%.
• Extracting hangovers from beer: inside Budweiser owner’s ‘nolo’ brewery in south WalesRead moreThe 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. This is the lowest figure since data collection began in 1990 and down from a high of 14 weekly drinks two decades ago.
• However, total abstention is not on the rise despite the decline in consumption, which suggests more cautious drinking habits have driven the trend. Along with other big supermarkets, Ocado is tapping into the country’s changing drinking culture by stocking more mid-strength brands, including La Felicite rosé (9%), Nice Session sauvignon blanc (3.4%) and Quarter Proof gin (15%), alongside nolo options. Ocado and Waitrose reported an increase in shoppers searching their websites for nolo brands before the holidays. Popular searches include Botivo – a British non-alcoholic aperitif in the style of Italian classics such as Campari and Aperol – and Mother Root, a fiery ginger non-alcoholic aperitif.