Can You Drink No & Low Alcohol Drinks When Pregnant?

The NHS advises that pregnant women should avoid alcohol altogether — including low-alcohol drinks — because no safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy has been established. We echo this guidance at DrinkWell. That said, we understand that pregnancy is a time to celebrate, and that there are alcohol-free options that can feel more festive than a soft drink when you want to raise a glass.

What counts as low alcohol?

Under UK government guidelines, drinks are classified as follows: alcohol-free (0.05% ABV or less), de-alcoholised (0.5% ABV or less), and low alcohol (up to 1.2% ABV). The NHS recommends that if you want to be completely safe during pregnancy, choose alcohol-free (0.05% or under) rather than low-alcohol options. Reduced-alcohol wines at around 5.5% ABV are not in this category and should be treated the same as regular wine during pregnancy.

Watch out for sugar in alcohol-free drinks

Many alcohol-free wines and beers contain significantly more sugar than their full-strength equivalents. When alcohol is removed from wine, producers often add sweetness to compensate for the lost body and flavour. Some alcohol-free wines contain over 60g of sugar per litre. If you're monitoring sugar intake during pregnancy — which is sensible for managing weight and gestational diabetes risk — check the sugar content of any alcohol-free option carefully before buying.

DrinkWell's position

DrinkWell focuses on full-strength, zero-sugar wines and beers. While we don't currently stock a wide range of alcohol-free products, our low-calorie wine and beer range represents the best option for anyone who wants to drink responsibly with full knowledge of exactly what's in their glass.

For a comprehensive guide to alcohol-free options during pregnancy, we recommend consulting the NHS pregnancy guidelines or speaking with your midwife or GP.

• Lower in alcohol options at DrinkWell

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