Actress Kristen Bell, best known for her role in “The Good Place”, caused controversy when she revealed that her eight and nine-year-old daughters drink non-alcoholic beer.
According to Sanjay Gupta, medical correspondent for CNN internationally, the risk in offering these drinks to children is not in their immediate health, but rather that they act as a “gateway”.
“Part of the appeal is that the drinks taste, look and smell the same as alcoholic beverages. It’s a similar experience. But as a result, it can also give children a chance to ‘practice drinking’”, explained the doctor. “This could create a culture of drinking at a very young age.”
The production of non-alcoholic versions of traditionally alcoholic drinks is neither designed nor recommended by brands for children. The trend has gained ground among adult consumers who seek a healthier and more balanced lifestyle, avoiding alcohol consumption, or among those who need to stop drinking alcohol, but still want to satisfy their longing for the taste.
To the non-alcoholic drinks has been gaining more and more space on tables in Brazil and around the world. Worldwide, the segment generates more than US$10 billion, according to data from the Worldwide Beer Alliance (WBA).
One study carried out in Japan – where it is only possible to drink alcohol legally after the age of 20 – showed that between 20% and 30% of primary, secondary and higher education students drink non-alcoholic drinks. These young people also demonstrated that they were more likely or interested in drinking alcohol than others.
Sanjay Gupta also highlighted that non-alcoholic drinks may still contain a small amount of alcohol: “So, if you are trying to be absolutely abstinent, it is a good idea to read the labels.”
In Brazil, legislation highlights that only products with less than 0.5% alcohol can be classified as non-alcoholic. This amount, however, is similar to that of foods made through fermentation, such as sliced bread, soy sauce or even ripe fruit.
“This movement is a good thing from a health perspective, as more and more people want to avoid drinking alcohol. But it is important to have all the information to do this in the best possible way”, added Gupta.
*Published by Fernanda Pinotti, with information from CNN international
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This content was originally published in Learn about the risks of non-alcoholic beer for minors on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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