A wide range of alcohol-free beers are now available for those who love the taste of a lager, IPA or ale, but want to maintain their sobriety.
The teetotal tipples have come a long way from the relatively bland brews introduced back in the 1980s, and Scotland’s beer producers now have a wide range of tasty beverages that might just make you think they’re the real thing.
And with Dry January expected to be bigger than ever this year – Alcohol Change UK, the charity behind the initiative, estimate around 20 per cent of drinkers will take part in 2025 – cans and bottles should be flying off the shelves for the next four weeks.
Interestingly many alcohol-free beers technically do have some alcohol in them, with a 0.5 percent ABV fairly typical.
But given that several common food items – including brown bread, apple juice and ripe bananas – contain a similar volume of alcohol, these drinks can still be labelled ‘alcohol-free’.
German scientists have even shown that 0.5 per cent beer has “no physiological” effect on the body, pronouncing it safe for drivers to drink even with the country’s tough ‘zero tolerance’ drink-driving laws.
And it isn’t just the lack of alcohol that makes these pints attractive – the relatively low number of calories in them means they can also help you keep to that New Year weight loss resolution.
So, here are the 12 Scottish beers you can knock back without feeling any guilt.
5. Stoker's Stout
There aren't many alcohol-free stouts on the market, but Stoker's, another drink from Edinburgh's Jump/Ship Brewery, offers a drop of the black stuff without the booze. The blend of oats, roasted barley, cacao and vanilla creates a dark drink wit "notes of coffee and chocolate, a hint of sweetness and dry finish". It's also completely sugar-free. Photo: Jump/Ship Brewing
6. Punk AF
Brewdog's Punk IPA is the company's flagship brand, popular with drinkers around the world. So it was an obvious move to produce an alcohol-free version - with many fans saying they find it difficult to tell the difference between the alcoholic version and Punk AF. Photo: Brewdog
7. Days Lager
The first of two alcohol-free beers from the Days Brewery is a "clean, crisp and sessionable" lager "lightly malted with well-balanced floral and citrus". Days Brewery, who only make zero alcohol beers, uses water from the water from the heart of the Lammermuir Hills and premium locally-grown malt to make their drinks. Photo: Days Brewing
8. Flying Colours Pale Ale
A full-bodied pale ale from Edinburgh's Jump/Ship Brewery, Flying Colours is billed as having "malty base notes, topped with fruity hops". Those looking to watch their wasitline will be delighted to hear a can contains just 56 calories. Photo: Jump/Ship Brewing