With two May bank holidays on the horizon and consumer demand for no and low alcohol drinks continuing to build, Booker is encouraging hospitality operators to capitalise on one of the fastest-growing revenue opportunities of 2026.
The UK no and low alcohol drinks market is forecast to reach £800 million by 2028, and with 17% of consumers having already purchased mocktails, the commercial case for a well-stocked non-alcoholic offering has never been stronger. The moderation movement is firmly mainstream, and research shows that over half of UK consumers are actively moderating their alcohol intake, driven by health and wellbeing motivations.
The trend is particularly pronounced among younger demographics; the consumption of alcohol-free drinks has risen from 28% to 49% with 18-34 year olds. Alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks during the same occasion – is also now practised by more than a third of UK adults, creating an opportunity for outlets to serve both categories side by side.
May’s two bank holiday weekends are among the busiest periods in the hospitality calendar. Group gatherings, family occasions, brunches and al fresco dining all drive footfall, and operators that offer an inclusive drinks menu stand to increase spend-per-head across the board.
Occasion-ready no and low serves
Booker’s Spring Catering Guide features a dedicated no and low serves section designed to help operators build a compelling non-alcoholic drinks menu with minimal complexity. Each serve can be offered with or without alcohol, giving venues the flexibility to cater to every guest at the table.
The Apple Ginger is a refreshing blend of apple juice and Schweppes ginger ale, served over mint leaves, delivering strong margins as a standalone mocktail or elevated to a premium gin serve. For a vibrant, brunch-ready option, the Sunrise combines orange juice with grenadine syrup, topped with Schweppes Indian tonic – with or without an optional shot of tequila – offering eye-catching presentation and profitability. The Peaches and Cream pairs Red Bull with peach syrup for a refreshing, modern serve, or can be offered with an optional shot of Archers for those looking for something stronger.
Non-alcoholic drinks and dessert serve
Beyond traditional mocktails, dessert-style drinks that tap into the growing consumer appetite for indulgent, Instagram-worthy serves are growing in demand. These offer operators a way to extend their drinks menu beyond standard soft drinks or no / low alcohol alternatives of traditional serves and drive incremental revenue from a category that guests are increasingly willing to pay a premium for.
The Tiramisu Frappe brings a dessert-inspired twist to the drinks menu, made with DaVinci Gourmet Liquid Frappe Base Syrup, DaVinci Gourmet Classic Tiramisu Syrup, fresh semi-skimmed milk, Chef’s Larder UHT cream and ice cubes. For a fruity, colourful option, the Blueberry Lemonade uses Simply Blueberry Flavour Syrup, Jack’s blueberries and DaVinci Gourmet Cloudy Lemonade Base Syrup.
The Passion Fruit Matcha – combining DaVinci Gourmet Passion Fruit Syrup with PerfectTed Matcha Powder, R White’s Zero Sugar Lemonade Syrup and ice cubes – delivers a trend-forward, wellness-inspired option. Rounding out the selection, the Strawberry & Peach Iced Tea features DaVinci Peach Iced Tea Syrup with Simply Strawberry Popping Boba and ice cubes, offering a playful, textured serve that provides the theatre social-media-savvy diners crave.
Gavin Troman, Spirits Category Manager at Booker, says: “The two May bank holidays represent a revenue opportunity for hospitality outlets that are prepared. With consumer demand for low and no alcohol drinks growing at pace, operators who invest in a strong non-alcoholic range will be well-positioned to capture additional spend from guests who are moderating but still want to enjoy premium, occasion-worthy serves.
“We’ve developed our no and low serves and non-alcoholic drinks ranges specifically to make it easy for operators to build an inclusive menu that drives margin. Every serve in the guide has been designed to look and taste premium while keeping costs low, so outlets can offer guests a sophisticated experience and protect their profitability at the same time.”
Last month, Booker announced the launch of Value Hero – a new price investment campaign with a renewed focus on value for caterers, chefs, foodservice operators and hospitality venues.
The Booker Spring Catering Guide is out now with seasonal ideas and inspiration, including a full No and Low Serves section and non-alcoholic drinks. Booker has locked down prices on 650 products and ingredients to ensure businesses can make their purchases at special prices, safe in the knowledge that prices will not fluctuate. Current prices are locked until 16th June 2026.
For more details and to sign up to Booker, visit https://www.booker.co.uk/
