The market for “0% alcohol” drinks is booming. On the shelves, beers now sit alongside wines and dealcoholized cocktails, attracting those who want to toast without excess. But are they suitable for children?
Alcohol-free beer, a product that appeals to young and old
The first low-alcohol beers appeared in France in the 1960s. Long limited to an alcohol content of less than 0.5%, they evolved until, recently, they became “0.0%” drinks. However, the zero displayed on the label does not always mean “zero alcohol”.
Indeed, a so-called “alcohol-free” beer is not completely free of alcohol. Its dealcoholization process often leaves between 0.01% and 0.5% ethanol. Even up to 1.2% according to French legislation, which is quite flexible. This low rate may seem insignificant, but it is not for the youngest.
The Belgian Poison Control Center reminds that alcohol is dangerous for children. “A blood alcohol level that is well tolerated by an adult can lead to a drop in blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and convulsions (epileptic seizures) in children.“.
Even in tiny quantities, these drinks are therefore neither suitable nor safe for children.
Another point to watch out for: these beers are not always nutritionally lighter. According to dietician Alexandra Murcier, “sAlthough dealcoholized drinks can represent an interesting alternative when you consume too much alcohol, they nonetheless remain high in calories and rich in sugar for some. They can therefore have an influence on our weight and our health”.
A risk of making alcohol commonplace from a very young age
In addition, giving a child a non-alcoholic beer, even to “do like the adults”, can have a much stronger symbolic effect than it seems: it is a first step towards the normalization of alcohol consumption.
Dr. William Lowenstein, internist and president of SOS Addictions, warns against this practice. “As a reminder, chocolate cigarettes were banned in this spirit of prevention and so as not to encourage the “when you grow up, you will smoke real cigarettes”. The same need for protective anticipation must be taken into account regarding the consumption of beers and other “non-alcoholic” drinks.
In other words, offering these drinks to children amounts to teaching them that partying necessarily rhymes with alcohol, even in its “harmless” form. This implicit message can lower the threshold of prohibition during adolescence and pave the way for earlier consumption.
Preserve the party… without alcohol
Conversely, it is essential to show children that conviviality and sharing do not necessarily involve alcohol. Fruit juices, sodas, flavored sparkling waters… there is no shortage of alternatives to allow young people to participate in festive moments without danger.
Specialists are unanimous: it is better to prohibit any “non-alcoholic” drink for children, but also to prevent them from tasting wine, cider or beer, even symbolically by “dipping their lips” into it. Finally, at home, it is also recommended to store alcohol bottles out of their reach in order to prevent any accidents.