Finding the best alcohol-free beer doesn’t have to be a challenge, especially if you’re a designated driver. The UK market offers a variety of options that deliver great taste, low calories, and safe ABV levels. Here are four standout choices:
- IMPOSSIBREW® Enhanced Lager: Japanese-style lager with nootropics for relaxation. Gluten-free and vegan, but slightly pricier at £30 for 10 cans.
- Lucky Saint: Bavarian unfiltered lager with a crisp finish. Available widely in supermarkets and pubs at £6 for a 4-pack.
- Heineken 0.0: A budget-friendly, malty lager, priced around £5 for a 6-pack. Widely accessible in stores and pubs.
- Guinness 0.0: A rich, roasted stout that mirrors the original. Costs about £4.50 for a 4-pack and is increasingly served on draught.
Quick Comparison
| Beer | Calories (per 100ml) | ABV | Price | Dietary Info | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMPOSSIBREW® Lager | 17 kcal | 0.5% | £30 (10 cans) | Gluten-free, vegan | Website, Amazon |
| Lucky Saint | 16 kcal | 0.5% | £6 (4-pack) | Contains barley | Supermarkets, pubs |
| Heineken 0.0 | 21 kcal | <0.05% | £5 (6-pack) | Contains barley | Supermarkets, pubs |
| Guinness 0.0 | 17 kcal | <0.05% | £4.50 (4-pack) | Contains barley | Supermarkets, pubs, draught |
Each option offers something unique, from premium ingredients to affordability. Whether you value flavour, health benefits, or convenience, there’s a great alcohol-free beer for your next outing.
Alcohol-Free Beer Comparison: Calories, Price, and Availability
I Tried Every Non-Alcoholic Beer
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1. IMPOSSIBREW® Enhanced Lager
The IMPOSSIBREW® Enhanced Lager is crafted using the RealBrew™ Process, ensuring a 0.5% ABV without any dilution. This method preserves both the flavour and texture, delivering an authentic beer experience.
Taste
This lager is brewed with a premium Japanese extra dry recipe, offering a crisp and refreshing profile. Expect biscuity and caramel undertones, balanced with earthy hop notes, and finishing with hints of citrus, floral, and toffee. Recognised for its exceptional taste, it was crowned "UK's Best Tasting Alcohol-Free Lager" at the World Beer Awards 2023 [6][8]. It has also earned a Great Taste Award and a Gold Medal at the London Beer Competition, a first for the No/Low beer category [8].
"We tested one on a friend who didn't even realise it wasn't the real thing." - The Independent [8]
Health Benefits
Beyond its rich taste, this lager features the Social Blend™, a nootropic mix including L-theanine and Ashwagandha, designed to mimic the relaxed feeling of enjoying a pint - without any impairment. In a 2025 study of over 2,000 participants, 84% reported feeling more relaxed after drinking it [9]. It’s also a low-calorie option, with just 17 kcal per 100ml (around 75 calories per 440ml can) and only 0.7g of sugar per 100ml. Certified gluten-free (less than 10 PPM) and 100% vegan, it caters to a wide range of dietary needs [8].
Availability
You can purchase IMPOSSIBREW® Enhanced Lager directly from the official website, which offers free express shipping on UK Mainland orders over £35 (or a £3.49 fee for smaller orders) [8][9]. Standard delivery takes 1–3 business days, with next-day delivery available for orders placed before 12:00 PM [8]. It’s also available on Amazon UK and through independent retailers like Wise Bartender [5][7].
Price
A case of 10 × 440ml cans is priced at £30.00, though it’s often on sale for £25.49 [8]. Subscribers can save 15% on monthly deliveries, bringing the cost down to approximately £1.97 per can [8]. First-time buyers can take advantage of the Welcome Bundle, which includes two free beers with their initial purchase [8][10]. With its reasonable pricing and convenient delivery, it’s an excellent choice for designated drivers or anyone seeking a safe and enjoyable drink.
IMPOSSIBREW® Enhanced Lager stands out as a top-tier option for those looking for flavourful, alcohol-free beer with added benefits.
2. Lucky Saint
Lucky Saint is a Bavarian unfiltered lager that has carved out a name for itself as one of the UK's standout alcohol-free beers. Founded by Luke Boase, the brand set out to challenge perceptions around alcohol-free options [11]. It was even crowned the Official Beer of Dry January 2023 [11] and received a glowing 5/5 rating from talkSPORT, naming it the "Best alcohol-free beer overall" for 2026 [14]. Here's a closer look at its taste, health profile, availability, and pricing.
Taste
What makes Lucky Saint special is its brewing process. The beer is conditioned for 40 days to develop its flavours before undergoing vacuum distillation to remove the alcohol [12][14]. The result? A unique blend that brings together elements of a lager, a weißbier, and a sour. It offers a crisp, dry finish with a refreshing citrus twist and a malty backbone [11][12][14].
Brewed in Bavaria with spring water, Pilsner malt, Hallertau hops, and a specially selected yeast strain [12][14], it delivers an authentic beer experience at just 0.5% ABV.
"If I was served this without knowing what I was drinking, I could easily be fooled that I was drinking the real thing." - Zoe Nicol, Tested [14]
Reviewers have been generous with their praise, giving it top marks like 5/5 from Alcohol Change UK and 87/100 from My Dry Bar [11][12]. Its hazy golden colour and frothy head make it even more appealing. For the best experience, serve it well-chilled [12][14].
Health Benefits
Lucky Saint is a low-calorie option, with just 16 calories per 100ml (around 53 calories for a 330ml bottle) [11][12][14]. It’s completely sugar-free [14] and suitable for vegans [11][12][14]. However, it does contain barley, so it's not gluten-free [12][14]. Its low calorie count makes it a great pick for those watching their intake, especially designated drivers looking for a satisfying alternative.
Availability
Lucky Saint is easy to find across the UK. Major supermarkets like Tesco, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Morrisons, and Ocado stock it [11][12][3]. You’ll also spot it on tap at many pubs, as well as at locations like Everyman cinemas, Honest Burger, and Dishoom [11][12][3][13]. To find nearby pubs serving it, check out the "Find Lucky Saint on tap" tool on their website.
Price
A 4-pack of 330ml bottles or cans is priced at around £6.00 in most supermarkets [3][1], with Waitrose listing it slightly higher at £6.25 [15]. For those buying in bulk, a 20-pack is available for £36.00 [14]. At roughly 45p per 100ml [3], it’s positioned as a premium product. A Which? blind-taste test in April 2025, involving 64 regular beer drinkers, highlighted Lucky Saint as one of the pricier options. However, many felt its quality justified the cost [3]. Up next, we’ll take a look at another excellent choice for mindful drinkers.
3. Heineken 0.0
Heineken 0.0 has made a strong impression in the UK since its launch in March 2017. Backed by a £2.5 million marketing campaign, it quickly climbed the ranks to become the second best-selling alcohol-free beer in the country [16][20]. Its popularity has made it a go-to choice, especially for designated drivers.
Taste
Heineken 0.0 is crafted through a double-brewing process using water, barley malt, hop extract, and A-yeast. The alcohol is then removed via vacuum distillation [17]. What’s left is a crisp lager with a malty, fruity body and subtle cereal notes. With an alcohol content of less than 0.05% ABV, it’s a safe option for those avoiding alcohol.
"It looks, smells and tastes like a great lager... and it has none of the unpleasant aftertaste that mars so many other zero‐alcohol beers." - Alcohol Change UK [16]
BBC Good Food’s wine expert Henry Jeffreys also praised it: "This was a real surprise – it's fresh and clean, with no sweetness or strange flavours and tastes very much like the alcoholic version" [18]. The beer has received high ratings, including 4/5 from Alcohol Change UK and 4.6/5 stars from Morrisons customers based on 44 reviews. While some find the texture slightly syrupy or note a "cardboardy" aftertaste, serving it chilled helps preserve its refreshing crispness [17][18].
Health Benefits
For those behind the wheel, Heineken 0.0 offers a lighter, health-conscious choice. A 330ml serving contains just 69 calories, with around 1g of sugar per 100ml (roughly 4.3g per serving) and 15.8g of carbohydrates [16][17]. While it’s a good pick for reducing alcohol intake , and many find that alcohol-free beer helps them quit drinking entirely, it’s worth noting that it contains barley, making it unsuitable for gluten-free diets.
Availability
Heineken 0.0 is easy to find throughout the UK. It’s stocked by major supermarkets like Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Morrisons, and Ocado [3]. Online options include Amazon and DryDrinker [20]. Increasingly, it’s also being offered on tap in pubs and bars [16].
Price
Heineken 0.0 is reasonably priced, with a 6-pack of 330ml cans costing around £5.00 (25p per 100ml) [3]. Larger packs offer better value - a 12-pack is available for about £11.50 at Morrisons (approximately £2.90 per litre), and a 24-pack costs around £18.00 [18][19]. This affordability, combined with its taste and nutritional profile, makes it a practical option for responsible drinkers.
4. Guinness 0.0
Guinness 0.0 has claimed the title of the UK's top-selling alcohol-free beer by value as of March 2024. Off-trade sales have seen an impressive jump of nearly 110%, reaching £33.2 million in the year ending July 2024 [24]. For those staying sober, like designated drivers, it delivers the full Guinness experience - minus the alcohol - making social occasions enjoyable and safe.
Taste
The team at St. James's Gate spent four years perfecting Guinness 0.0 to match the iconic taste of the original [21]. Using the same natural ingredients as standard Guinness, the alcohol is removed through cold filtration, ensuring the flavour stays intact [21]. The result? A rich and smooth stout with a mix of bitter, sweet, and roasted notes, complemented by subtle hints of chocolate and coffee [21][23]. Thanks to the nitrogen widget in each can, it pours with the signature creamy head and dark ruby-red hue [22][23].
"You'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between this 0.0% beer and an ordinary Guinness at 4.2%." - Alcohol Change UK [25]
Alcohol Change UK gave it a glowing 5/5, hailing it as "one of the best alcohol-free beers there is" [25]. BBC Good Food also praised it as "pretty tasty" and "recognisably like the alcoholic original" [18]. While some reviewers have noted that the body feels slightly lighter compared to the full-strength version, the overall flavour remains strikingly similar [22].
Health Benefits
Guinness 0.0 is a lighter option at just 17 calories per 100ml - less than half the calories of a standard Guinness Draught. A 440ml can has roughly 70–75 calories [22][26]. It’s low in sugar, with only 0.7g per 100ml, and contains 3.8g of carbohydrates [22][27]. With an ABV of no more than 0.05%, it’s a safe choice for those avoiding alcohol entirely, whether for health reasons or driving [22]. However, it does contain barley, so it’s not suitable for gluten-free diets [22].
Availability
Finding Guinness 0.0 across the UK is easy. It’s stocked by major supermarkets like Waitrose, Morrisons, Tesco, Asda, and Sainsbury’s [28][3]. Online shoppers can grab it from Amazon and specialist retailers. A 4-pack of 440ml cans is typically priced at £4.50 at Tesco [27], while Amazon lists an 8-pack for around £18.21 [18]. Increasingly, pubs and bars are also serving it on draught, thanks to the "MicroDraught" system that uses cans with specialised equipment [22][27].
Price
Guinness 0.0 is not only widely available but also reasonably priced. A 4-pack of 440ml cans ranges from £3.00 to £5.95, with the average price landing around £4.50 [28]. For bigger savings, a 10-pack costs approximately £12.24 [28], breaking down to about £0.17 to £0.34 per 100ml [28]. With its authentic taste and competitive pricing, Guinness 0.0 offers excellent value for those looking for a premium alcohol-free beer option.
Comparison: Pros and Cons
Here's a quick overview of the key advantages and disadvantages of popular alcohol-free beers, making it easier to weigh up their features side by side.
| Beer | Taste | Health Benefits | Availability | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMPOSSIBREW® Enhanced Lager |
Pros: Floral hops with a hint of lemon Cons: Higher price point |
Pros: Includes adaptogens and botanicals for calm focus; low in calories Cons: Unsuitable for pregnant or breastfeeding individuals |
Pros: Available online and on Amazon Cons: Limited availability in high-street shops |
Pros: Functional ingredients justify the cost Cons: Around £29.98 for 10 cans (£3.00 per can) [14] |
| Lucky Saint |
Pros: Biscuity malt with citrus notes; praised for its "real beer" taste and good head [14] Cons: Some reviews mention a "fresh plaster" aroma |
Pros: Just 53 calories per bottle Cons: - |
Pros: Widely available in Tesco, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, and pubs [3][14] Cons: - |
Pros: High quality at a reasonable price Cons: Around £6.00 for a 4-pack (45p per 100ml) [3][14] |
| Heineken 0.0 |
Pros: Smooth, malty, with fruity notes; draught version rated better than bottled [3][1] Cons: Bottled version has "pear drop" notes, according to some reviews [4][1] |
Pros: Just 21 calories per 100ml and 69 calories per bottle [1][4] Cons: Lacks additional functional benefits |
Pros: Widely available in major supermarkets and pubs [3][1] Cons: - |
Pros: Most affordable option at about £5.00 for a 6-pack (25p per 100ml) [3] Cons: - |
| Guinness 0.0 |
Pros: Roasted coffee and chocolate notes, closely resembles the original stout with a smooth texture [14] Cons: - |
Pros: Just 17 calories per 100ml and low sugar at 0.7g per 100ml Cons: Contains barley, so not gluten-free |
Pros: Stocked by major supermarkets and increasingly available on draught [2] Cons: High demand can sometimes cause stock issues [2] |
Pros: Mid-range pricing at around £5.45 for a 4-pack [14] Cons: - |
This breakdown highlights how each beer caters to different needs. Heineken 0.0 is the most budget-friendly, Guinness 0.0 delivers a classic stout experience, Lucky Saint strikes a balance between quality and cost, and IMPOSSIBREW® Enhanced Lager offers unique adaptogenic benefits for those willing to pay a bit more.
Conclusion
This review has explored each option based on taste, health benefits, availability, and price. For designated drivers, finding a beer that combines flavour, wellness, and affordability is key.
If you're after a lager that delivers more than just taste, IMPOSSIBREW® Enhanced Lager and Hazy Pale is a standout. It features the unique Social Blend™ of nootropics, which, according to a 2025 study, helped 84% of customers feel more relaxed [9]. Starting at just £1.97 per can, it offers a social lift without the drawbacks of alcohol.
For those craving a classic lager profile, Lucky Saint delivers an authentic flavour reminiscent of traditional lagers. Priced at around £6.00 for a four-pack, it’s a solid choice for purists. Meanwhile, stout lovers can turn to Guinness 0.0, which mirrors the rich experience of the original, with only 17 calories per 100ml and an affordable price of roughly £5.00 for a four-pack.
Finally, Heineken 0.0 is the best pick for value-conscious drinkers. At approximately £5.00 for six cans, it’s a cost-effective option for anyone seeking a zero-alcohol beer.
Whether you’re looking for relaxation, authentic flavour, a rich stout, or unbeatable value, these options ensure a satisfying and safe choice for designated drivers.
FAQs
Will 0.5% ABV affect driving?
A 0.5% ABV alcohol-free beer is unlikely to impact your ability to drive, as it’s considered non-intoxicating. In the UK, this type of beer is legally classified as alcohol-free and can be sold without a licence, even though it contains trace amounts of alcohol. However, it’s always important to make sure you feel completely alert and capable before getting behind the wheel.
Can alcohol-free beer show on a breathalyser?
Alcohol-free beer can occasionally show up on a breathalyser, particularly if it contains trace amounts of alcohol, such as up to 0.05% ABV. There has been some debate about raising this threshold to 0.5% ABV, which could potentially influence breathalyser readings further. Although these readings are usually very low, it's wise to exercise caution if you're planning to drive after drinking alcohol-free beverages.
Who should avoid nootropic beers?
Nootropic beers are not suitable for everyone. They should be avoided by individuals who are pregnant or breastfeeding, those with gastrointestinal disorders, hypertension, or anyone taking medication, as they could pose health risks or lead to negative interactions. If you're uncertain, it's always best to consult a healthcare professional.
