Can You Drink Alcohol-Free Beer and Drive in the UK?

Can You Drink Alcohol-Free Beer and Drive in the UK?

Updated 2 November 2026

Quick answer

Yes. It is legal to drink alcohol-free beer and drive in the UK. A 440ml can at 0.5% ABV holds 0.22 units of alcohol, about a tenth of a normal 5% lager, and the average adult clears roughly one unit an hour. You can still be prosecuted if you are unfit to drive for any reason, so if you want zero alcohol before driving, pick a beer labelled 0.0%.

Trustpilot

Ratings compared

Checked 5 Nov 2026

1 IMPOSSIBREW 4.4 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot 4.4 1,036 reviews
2 Lucky Saint 4.3 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot 4.3 3,734 reviews
3 BrewDog 4.0 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot 4.0 2,600 reviews
Not ranked: fewer than 1,000 reviews
Guinness 2.4 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot 2.4 9 reviews
Heineken 2.0 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot 2.0 102 reviews

Brands with 1,000+ Trustpilot reviews are ranked. TrustScores and review counts from each brand's Trustpilot page, checked 5 Nov 2026.

What the labels mean

UK labelling terms come from government guidance, not from drink-driving law:

  • Alcohol-free: no more than 0.05% ABV. This is what 0.0% beers use.
  • De-alcoholised: alcohol removed, no more than 0.5% ABV.
  • Low alcohol: no more than 1.2% ABV.

Many beers sold as "alcohol-free" in the UK are 0.5%, which is the standard across most of Europe. The government has said it is exploring raising the UK alcohol-free limit to 0.5% to match. Until then, the number on the can matters more than the word on the front.

How much alcohol is in your drink?

One UK unit is 10ml of pure alcohol. Units = volume in ml × ABV ÷ 1,000.

Drink ABV Serving Units
Heineken 0.0 / Guinness 0.0 up to 0.05% 330 to 440ml 0.02 or less
Lucky Saint Unfiltered Lager 0.5% 330ml 0.17
IMPOSSIBREW Enhanced Lager 0.5% 440ml 0.22
Regular 5% lager 5% 440ml can 2.2
Regular 5% lager 5% pint (568ml) 2.8

So one can of 0.5% beer is about a tenth of one can of normal lager. The NHS says the average adult processes about one unit an hour, though this varies from person to person.

The drink-drive limits

England, Wales and NI Scotland
Breath (micrograms per 100ml) 35 22
Blood (mg per 100ml) 80 50
Urine (mg per 100ml) 107 67

In January 2026 the government's Road Safety Strategy set out plans to bring England and Wales down to Scotland's limit, with a much lower limit of around 20mg for new drivers. That has not become law yet. If it does, new drivers in particular should stick to 0.0%.

The law that applies even under the limit

Section 4 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 makes it an offence to drive while unfit through drink or drugs, whatever your reading. That is why the honest rule is simple: if you feel anything other than normal, do not drive.

A few practical points:

  • Check the ABV before you open it, not after.
  • Driving straight after? Choose 0.0%.
  • Drinking at the wheel is legal, but a can that looks like normal beer can get you pulled over. Save it for when you arrive.
  • Going to Scotland, or a new driver? The margin is smaller, so pick 0.0%.

What about IMPOSSIBREW?

IMPOSSIBREW beers are 0.5% ABV, so a 440ml can holds 0.22 units. They are brewed with Social Blend™ (L-theanine, ashwagandha, magnesium and vitamin B1), which is designed to help you relax. They contain no caffeine.

Because the point of IMPOSSIBREW is to help you unwind, it is a drink for when the car keys are put away: at home, at the pub when someone else is driving, or after the journey. If you are about to drive, choose a 0.0% instead.

Frequently asked questions

Can you drink alcohol-free beer and drive in the UK?

Yes, it is legal. A 0.5% beer contains a small fraction of the alcohol in normal beer, and a 0.0% beer contains almost none. You can still be prosecuted if you are unfit to drive, so if you need certainty, choose 0.0%.

How many alcohol-free beers can you drink before driving?

There is no legal number, because the limit is measured in your breath or blood, not in drinks. A 440ml can at 0.5% holds 0.22 units, and the average adult clears about one unit an hour. If you want zero alcohol, choose 0.0%.

Can alcohol-free beer make you fail a breathalyser?

It is very unlikely, because the amounts are so small. A 0.0% beer contains almost no alcohol at all. Our separate guide covers whether alcohol-free beer shows up on a breathalyser.

Is 0.5% classed as alcohol-free in the UK?

Not under current UK guidance, which reserves "alcohol-free" for 0.05% and below. 0.5% drinks are described as de-alcoholised or low alcohol. The government is exploring raising the alcohol-free limit to 0.5%.

Is it illegal to drink non-alcoholic beer while driving?

No. But a can that looks like normal beer may get you stopped, and you can be prosecuted if you are unfit to drive for any reason.

Is the drink-drive limit changing in England?

The government plans to lower the England and Wales limit from 80mg to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, matching Scotland, with a lower limit for new drivers. Check GOV.UK for the date it takes effect.

Sources

Checked 2 November 2026. GOV.UK: the drink drive limit · Road Traffic Act 1988, section 4 · GOV.UK: low alcohol descriptors guidance · Parliament: alcohol-free threshold answer, Oct 2025 · Road Safety Strategy, Jan 2026 (IAS summary) · NHS: alcohol units

About IMPOSSIBREW

IMPOSSIBREW makes alcohol-free beer brewed with Social Blend™ (L‑theanine, ashwagandha, magnesium and vitamin B1), developed with pharmacologists at Durham University, for the calm, relaxed feeling of a drink without the alcohol.

Dr Paul Chazot, Chair of Pharmacology at Durham University, who developed Social Blend with IMPOSSIBREW
2
91/100from the judges

Gold Medal for our Lager at the London Beer Competition, the first alcohol‑free beer to win Gold there. Judges noted citrus, light lemon and tropical aromas with a crisp finish.

3
GoldWorld Beer Awards

Voted the UK's best-tasting alcohol‑free lager at the World Beer Awards (Gold and Country Winner). Enhanced Lager and Enhanced Hazy Pale also each hold a Great Taste Award.

4
17kcalper 100ml

60% fewer calories than a standard 5% lager. Enhanced Lager is gluten-free (below 20ppm) and vegan.

As seen on BBC's Dragons' Den, with more than 100,000 customers.

*Highest TrustScore among alcohol‑free beer brands with over 1,000 Trustpilot reviews, checked 28 October 2026. See the scores.

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