Alcohol-Free and Low-Alcohol (NoLo) Research explores how people use, perceive, and experience alcohol-free and low-alcohol products, and the role these products may play in reducing alcohol-related harms.

About the Research

Alcohol-free and low-alcohol products are becoming increasingly popular, yet many questions remain about who uses them, why they are used, and whether they can support healthier drinking behaviours.

Research within OxBAR-Lab explores the motivations for using NoLo products, the contexts in which they are consumed, their relationship with drinking identities and social norms, and their potential role in alcohol harm reduction. We are particularly interested in understanding how NoLo products fit into everyday life and whether they can help support people who would like to reduce their alcohol consumption.

Our work uses a range of methods, including surveys, interviews, and intervention development, to understand both the opportunities and limitations of NoLo products as a public health strategy.

Current Projects

Mid-Life Women and NoLo Products

Research with mid-life women explores experiences of using NoLo products, perceived benefits and drawbacks, and the relationship between NoLo use, drinking motives, and alcohol reduction.

MAGMA

MAGMA explores how mid-life men understand, use, and perceive NoLo products. The project forms part of the wider BAR-MAN programme investigating barriers to alcohol reduction among mid-life men.

Ongoing Research

In addition to primary research studies, OxBAR-Lab researchers are contributing to evidence syntheses examining the potential role of NoLo products in alcohol harm reduction. This includes a systematic review and thematic synthesis, led by Alec Bond, exploring the barriers and facilitators to the use of alcohol-free and low-alcohol products as harm reduction strategies in the general population. The review aims to bring together evidence from across disciplines, identify factors influencing the adoption of NoLo products, and highlight priorities for future research, policy, and intervention development

Current Status: Ongoing programme of research.

Find Out More

Preregistrations

• MAGMA protocol: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/3GC6W 

Selected Publications

Burton, S., Monk, R., Davies, E., Goodier, M., & Rose, A. K. (2025). Impact of alcohol strength on attitudes and decisions concerning special occasion drinking during pregnancy. Bmc Public Health, 25(1), 3609. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-24234-6

Davies, E. L., Perman-Howe, P., Seddon, J., Piatkowski, T., Puljevic, C., Barratt, M. J., Winstock, A. R., & Ferris, J. A. (2025). Barriers to the use of no and low alcohol products in high-risk drinkers. Drug and Alcohol Review, 44(3), 842-857. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.14006

Davies, E. L., Wilde, N., Chigevenga, R., Matley, F., & Seddon, J. (2026). Drinking motives, socioeconomic factors and the harm-reduction potential of NoLo alcohol products for mid-life women. International Journal of Drug Policy, 152, 105254. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105254

Jia, R., Bandy, L., Davies, E., Forde, H., Scarborough, P., & Pechey, R. (2026). Effects of brand-matched alcoholic and alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks adverts on drink selections: A United Kingdom-based randomised controlled trial in an experimental online supermarket. Addiction, 121(2), 388-399. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/add.70210

Piatkowski, T., Patel, M., Puljević, C., Davies, E. L., Barratt, M. J., Winstock, A. R., & Ferris, J. A. (2024). Why, Where, and with Whom? Understanding the set and setting influencing the consumption of NoLo beverages. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2024.2376086