Coasting Drinks Redefine UK Alcohol Enjoyment in 2026

Published: 31 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

The concept of coasting drinks is rapidly gaining attention across the UK, offering a modern way to enjoy alcohol responsibly. With New Year’s Eve approaching, more Britons are choosing coasting drinks, which are about half the strength of traditional options, allowing celebrants to drink freely without excessive hangovers. Retailers like Ocado have reported soaring interest in mid-strength wine and beer options as coasting drinks continue to reshape festive celebrations, reflecting a nationwide shift toward mindful alcohol consumption. This innovative approach is redefining how people experience social drinking occasions.

Christmas and New Year’s Eve have historically left celebrants battling hangovers, yet the rise of coasting drinks has changed this dynamic. These beverages—ranging from white wines and lagers to cocktails—contain significantly less alcohol, often half the strength of standard versions, enabling multiple servings without negative effects. Vanessa Pearson, Ocado Retail’s trading manager for beers, wines, and spirits, credits the trend with a 4,000% surge in mid-strength wine sales during 2025, highlighting its growing appeal.

Mid-strength drinks sit between low-alcohol or alcohol-free alternatives and standard options, offering a balanced experience. While there is no firm industry definition, beers and ciders typically have 2–3% alcohol by volume, wines 3–9%, and spirits 15–20%. The surge of coasting drinks aligns with long-term data showing Britons have reduced weekly alcohol consumption, with the average adult drinking 10.2 alcoholic beverages in 2024, down from 14 weekly drinks twenty years prior.

Retailers are responding to changing tastes by expanding mid-strength and alcohol-free offerings. Ocado stocks brands like La Felicite rosé (9%), Nice Session sauvignon blanc (3.4%), and Quarter Proof gin (15%). Waitrose has reported similar trends, with shoppers increasingly searching for nolo brands such as Botivo, Mother Root, and Bero, the new beer co-founded by actor Tom Holland. Sarah Holland, Waitrose drinks buyer, emphasized consumers still desire “big flavours” in alcohol-free or mid-strength options, fueling booming sales of innovative products like Jukes 8’s sparkling rosé and Pentire’s booze-free paloma cocktail.

The popularity of coasting drinks has inspired specialist brands to form the “mid-strength collective,” including Club Soda, Quarter Proof, Gentle Wines, and Small Beer. A consumer poll found that 21% of drinkers reduce alcohol intake per occasion, 13% adopt a “coasting” approach, and 6% practice “zebra striping,” alternating between full, mid-strength, and alcohol-free drinks within a single event. Blake Gladman of consultancy Kam explained that evolving consumer habits now embrace mid-strength options as a middle ground, extending social experiences without compromising flavour or quality.

The rise of coasting drinks is more than a temporary festive trend. It reflects a broader cultural shift towards mindful drinking, where enjoyment no longer requires excess, and quality replaces quantity. Experts suggest the mid-strength approach is likely to become a permanent fixture in pubs, restaurants, and homes across the UK, influencing marketing, retail, and consumer behaviour well into the future. By balancing moderation and indulgence, coasting drinks are setting the tone for how Britons will celebrate responsibly in 2026 and beyond.

As more consumers adopt mid-strength and low-alcohol options, the UK drinks market anticipates sustained growth in the coasting drinks sector. Both retailers and producers are expected to expand offerings, creating a wider variety of flavours, formats, and experiences for mindful social drinking. Analysts forecast that coasting will continue to define how Britons approach festive celebrations, turning moderation into a celebratory choice rather than a compromise.

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