Adults’ attitudes toward non-alcoholic beer purchases and consumption by children and adolescents

Non-alcoholic beers have gained popularity in recent years offering an alternative to traditional alcoholic beverages. We investigated U.S. adults’ attitudes towards non-alcoholic beer purchases and consumption by children and adolescents using a survey administered on Amazon Mechanical Turk with 141 participants, yielding 124 valid responses. Most respondents supported minors’ non-alcoholic beer purchases and consumption. Notably, the degree of agreement was higher for non-alcoholic beers with a 0.0% alcohol by volume (ABV) limit than those with a 0.5% limit. Agreement rates for 0.0% ABV non- alcoholic beers ranged from 64.5% (consumption at school) to 75.0% (adults offering non-alcoholic beers to minors), while rates for 0.5% ABV beers ranged from 56.5% (consumption on public transportation) to 66.9% (consumption at home or purchases at a grocery/liquor store). Gender and age differences in attitudes were also observed, with males and younger adults showing higher agreement rates than females and middle-aged adults. Males showed an average agreement of 65.6% for 0.5% ABV non-alcoholic beers and 72.5% for 0.0% ABV beers, while females displayed rates of 55.4% and 55.0%, respectively. Similarly, young adults 18-34 years had an average prevalence of agreement of 66.1% for 0.5% ABV non-alcoholic beers and 71.8% for 0.0% ABV beers, compared to 54.9% and 58.3% among middle-aged adults, respectively. In conclusion, public opinion varies depending on the ABV limit and demographic factors, suggesting that a nuanced approach to policymaking may be necessary. Our study provides a starting point for a more holistic understanding of societal attitudes toward non-alcoholic beer consumption by minors and offers guidance for future policy development.