The production of non-alcoholic beer in Germany has more than doubled over the past decade, even as overall beer consumption in the country declines.
In 2023, non-alcoholic beer production reached 556 million liters, generating €548 million in sales. Notably, 10% of the beer produced by Weihenstephan, the world’s oldest brewery, is non-alcoholic. In 2024, the first bar dedicated exclusively to non-alcoholic beverages, “Die Null” (which means “the zero” in German), opened its doors.
Beer consumption in Germany has decreased since 1990, dropping from 142 liters per person to 88 liters per person in 2023.
At this year’s Oktoberfest, which started on Saturday and runs until October 6th, 16 of the 18 large beer tents offer non-alcoholic beer at the same prices as regular beer, ranging from €13.6 to €15.3 per liter.
Weihenstephan’s head brewer, Tobias Zollo, told the Associated Press, “Unfortunately, people are drinking less beer—something I have to admit as a brewer.” He added that now, anyone can drink non-alcoholic beer at Oktoberfest “without facing any judgment.”
