Projects & Research Partnerships

Introduction

The market for alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks (no/low drinks) has expanded significantly in recent years. While these drinks have the potential to support a reduction in alcohol consumption, their impact on young people's drinking habits remains unclear. Specifically, there is limited data on how adolescents (12-17 years) and young people (16-25 years) in Great Britain consume and experience no/low drinks.

Studies from other countries, such as Australia, Japan and Taiwan, indicate varying levels of no/low drink consumption among adolescents. However, comparable data for Great Britain is lacking. Furthermore, the relationship between no/low drink consumption and subsequent alcohol use is not fully understood.

Focus on family settings

This project emphasises the role of family settings in shaping young people's drinking behaviours. Family environments are often where initial experiences with alcohol occur, and parental supply is a significant source of alcohol for underage individuals in the UK. Previous research suggests that celebrations and family meals are key contexts for no/low drink consumption.

Research objectives and methodology

The primary objective of this project is to investigate the patterns and motivations behind no/low drink consumption among adolescents and young people in Great Britain, with a particular focus on family settings.

A mixed-methods approach will be used:

• Quantitative analysis (Work Package 1): This component will analyse data from a nationally representative survey – the Alcohol Toolkit Study – to identify trends in no/low drink consumption across different demographic groups. This will establish a population-level understanding of consumption patterns. The Alcohol Toolkit Study will also be used to explore adult attitudes to young people consuming no/low alcohol drinks.
• Qualitative interviews (Work Package 2): Ethnographic interviews will be conducted in family homes to explore the social and contextual factors influencing no/low drink consumption. This will provide detailed insights into individual experiences and family dynamics.

Specific research questions

This project will address the following novel research questions examining attitudes to
adolescents (aged 12-17) consuming no/low drinks in Great Britain:

1. How do adults in Great Britain perceive the consumption of no/low drinks by adolescents, overall
   and in family settings, and how does this vary across different sociodemographic
   groups? (WP1)
2. How do adult family members perceive the consumption of no/low drinks by
   adolescents in their own family? (WP2)

The project will also be the first to explore the following research questions, focused on how and
why adolescents and young people (16-25) in Great Britain consume no/low drinks:

3. What is the effect of the consumption of no and low alcohol drinks on the age at which young people first consume alcohol and the level at which young people consume alcohol? (WP1)
4. What are the trends in no/low drinks consumption by young people in Great Britain overall, and by
   different sociodemographic groups between 2022 and 2025? (WP1)
5. What are adolescents and young people's drinking practices of no/low drinks in family
   settings? (WP2)
6. How does adolescents' and young people's consumption of no/low drinks relate to their
   consumption of alcohol in family settings? (WP1, WP2)
7. How and why are no/low drinks consumed by adolescents in family settings in Great Britain?
   (WP2)
8. What role do families play in the consumption of no/low drinks by adolescents? (WP2)

Integration with wider research into no/low alcohol

This project runs alongside the four-year NIHR-funded 'No/Lo Project' which is investigating whether alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks can improve people's health.

While the No/Lo Project has engaged with young people through focus groups, the 'Young People's Consumption of No/Low Alcohol Drinks in Family Settings' project provides a more in-depth exploration of their consumption habits, specifically within family settings.

By employing both quantitative and qualitative methods, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of how and why young people consume no/low drinks in this crucial context. The results will directly inform the No/Lo Project's broader research goals, while also contributing valuable information to support informed decision making about no/low drinks and young people's health.