Craft brewers are set to bring back 1970s favourite shandy post-pandemic to fuel the thirst for no or low alcohol beer as growing numbers of young people go teetotal.
Beer start-ups who are turning their hand to making so-called ‘nolo’ beverages are now giving shandy a fresh spin as demand for craft versions of the drink rise.
Sainbury’s is set to begin selling craft brand Shandy Shack, based in Oxford, in all of its stores from next month, according to the Guardian.
It comes as sales of nolo beers rose by 30 per cent between 2016 and 2020 as nearly one in four 18-24-year-olds become teetotal to improve their health.
Brewers are set to bring back 1970s favourite shandy post-pandemic. Pictured, craft beer shop
The latest fad is helping to drive a thirst for craft versions of the traditional drink, with Sainbury’s to begin selling craft brand Shandy Shack in all of its stores from next month
People enjoy drinks and meeting friends in Soho, central London, on April 24, 2021
At £1.80 per can, Shandy Shack – which has a ‘elderflower lager top’ – reportedly promises a ‘punchy pilsner lager with a splash of crisp elderflower presse’ and have a 2.5 per cent alcohol by volume ratio.
Ed Stapleton, co-founder of Shandy Shack, said the company wanted shandy to reclaim its ‘rightful place as the country’s favourite low-alcohol drink’.
He told the paper that the trend towards alcohol moderation has accelerated during the pandemic, adding: ‘The moderation movement represents an important, progressive consumer shift that is here to stay.’
Tesco is teaming up with Manchester brewer Cloudwater to sell a four-pack that contains three regular and one alcohol-free beer following a 40 per cent increase in sales of nolo beers over the past two years.
The supermarket chain’s craft beer buyer, Luke O’Connor, said the £10 pack would be popular with households ‘where one member is abstaining from alcohol or those who fancy a midweek beer but don’t want to drink alcohol’.
According to the craft brewers’ trade organisation, growing numbers of 18-24-year-olds have been taking up nolo beers as they become more health conscious.
Sales of nolo beers have risen by 30 per cent between 2016 and 2020 as almost one in four young people become teetotal in a bid to improve their health, the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) has said.
Pictured: Waiters serve people eating and drinking at outside tables on Saturday in Soho
Cheers: Drinkers in Leeds headed to bars and beer gardens to enjoy the sun
Boris Johnson’s roadmap, with indoor hospitality expected to reopen on May 17 in England
The number of alcohol drinkers has fallen slightly, with the number of young people who say they do not drink increasing by six per cent between March 2019 and March 2020 to 23 per cent, SIBA added.
Its British Craft Beer Report from last year forecast that nolo beers are set to be one of the fastest growing parts of the market.
But drinkers are seeing the price of pints rising as thousands of licensed premises shut during the lockdown attempt to claw back losses accrued.
In some bars in London, pint prices have risen to £7, while one punter said a single pint of Peroni has rocked by 60p from £6.40 to £7 in Roehampton since the reopening on April 12.
Social media users also blasted the ‘shocking’ increase, claiming a Sam Smiths beverage has risen by £1.10.
The price hike follows breweries adding more than 12p a pint to brands including Budweiser, Stella Artois and Becks.
One consultant from a beer outlet said an increase of 4p to 5p is expected year on year, but labelled a rise of 9p as ‘absolutely ridiculous’, adding that over 12p is ‘just scandalous’.
Social media users blasted the ‘shocking’ price increase, claiming a Sam Smiths beverage has risen by £1.10 (tweet pictured above)
Drinkers have taken to social media to complain that a single pint has rocked from £3.20 to £4.70 in the South West and of prices climbing by 40p in Walsall
In a letter seen by MailOnline, drinks distributors G+G Gallo Enterprises listed price increases from suppliers that came into effect on April 5.
Among the lagers listed, Budweiser and Stella Four had the highest increase in price at 12.7p per pint, followed by Becks and Stella at 12p and Blue Moon at 9.5p (excluding VAT).
It follows MailOnline exclusively revealing that Star Pubs and Bars, which is owned by Heineken UK and supports 2,500 pubs nationwide, advised bosses to ‘consider reviewing’ price increases.
The group also cited a study conducted by market research companies KAM Media and CGA between May and June last year, finding almost two thirds of pub-goers ‘expected’ price rises following the first lockdown.
Industry body UK Hospitality previously warned that up to 30,000 pubs, bars and restaurants will close if ministers do not stick to the roadmap out of lockdown.
At the weekend, beer gardens across England were packed with revellers toasting the return of pubs and restaurants as coronavirus rules now mean people are allowed to eat and drink outside.
Pictures showed people flocking to beer gardens and making the most of the sunshine after lockdown restrictions were eased on April 12, allowing pubs to reopen for outdoor dining and drinking.
Outdoor hospitality in England can welcome back groups of up to six people, or two households. Indoor seating will not be allowed until at least May 17 under the Government’s current roadmap.
Pubs and restaurants in Scotland can reopen indoor from today and 50 people can attend weddings and funerals as the country moves from Level 4 to Level 3 of Holyrood’s five tiers of restrictions.
