Sales of non-alcoholic beer have risen fivefold in Denmark since 2014

The consumption of non-alcoholic beer rose 8% in Denmark last year, compared to the previous year, according to new data from the Danish Breweries Association.

In addition, sales have risen fivefold in Denmark since 2014, with just under ten million litres of non-alcoholic beer – classified as beers with an ABV of below 0.5% – consumed in 2025.

‘A sweet spot’

“Non-alcoholic beer is in the middle of a sweet spot,” commented Nick Hækkerup, director of the Danish Breweries Association. On the one hand, it benefits from the fact that a growing number of consumers occasionally want to enjoy drinks of good quality, but without alcohol. On the other hand, brewers are becoming more and more skilled at brewing tasty beer without percentages.”

Responding to this trend, breweries have become more experimental, resulting in a broader array of options available for consumers. In 2025, the members of the Danish Breweries Association brewed almost 100 different variants of non-alcoholic beers.

At-home consumption

The majority of non-alcoholic beer is purchased for at-home consumption in Denmark, the data showed, with 85% of sales taking place through retail outlets, and 14% served in bars, cafes, and restaurants.

Alcoholic beers, meanwhile, are more likely to be consumed outside the home, with 75% of alcoholic beer purchases taking place in stores, and 25% in bars, cafes, and restaurants.

Sales tend to be seasonal, with January emerging as the strongest month for non-alcoholic beer sales. During the first month of the year, when many consumers are adhering to ‘dry January’, sales are between a quarter and a third higher than in other months of the year.

Separate data from the Danish Breweries Association found that the number of breweries operating in Denmark fell in 2025 for the third year in a row, with small breweries citing bureaucracy and high costs as a reason for financial pressures. Read more here.