Virginia Nicholls: Alcohol Beverages Council Executive Director on the growing popularity of the zebra striping trend

A recent UK health trend is growing in popularity for Kiwis. 

Zebra striping means alternating between alcohol and a no or low-alcohol drink while socialising. 

Independent consumer research found that 55% of Kiwi respondents said they've drunk low-alcohol beverages in the past year. 

Alcohol Beverages Council Executive Director Virginia Nicholls told Ryan Bridge the growth of these drinks is being driven by a trend of moderation.  

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Forget the hard liquor or getting legless. One in every
four KEYWI adult are sorry. Four UK adults are now
doing what they call zebra stripping. And it's nothing to
do with animals or strippers. It's the act of having
one alcoholic drink followed by a low or a zero
equivalent and then repeating the process. So could we soon

(00:20):
be seeing this? I suppose you'd call it a health trend.

Speaker 2 (00:23):
Here.

Speaker 1 (00:24):
Virginia Nichols is the New Zealand Alcohol Beverages Council Executive
director and is with me this morning. Virginia, good morning
to you.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yeah, good morning Ryan.

Speaker 1 (00:32):
Would you call this a healthy thing? I suppose it's
less damaging. But if you're having a water in between
every beer, well.

Speaker 2 (00:38):
Look it's absolutely healthy because you're alternating with low and
no alcohol products. But don't underestimate as well that social
connections are vital for our health and wellbeing, and restaurants,
clubs and pubs play a unique role in bringing people together.
So I think that's something really important that positive effects
shouldn't be overlooked.

Speaker 1 (00:57):
And what are people? I mean, is this going to
affect Do you think sales of alcohol and non alcohol
products in New Zealand. You know, is this going to
be a trend that takes off.

Speaker 2 (01:07):
Well, it is taking off now and it has for
some period of time. And I think it's introducing the
way that we're drinking now. We're drinking in a very
different way. And I mean, I think the growth, particularly
the Noah low alcol drinks has been driven by a
trend of moderation. In recent years, the breweries, distilleries and
wine makers in New Zealand of invested in innovation to
enhance in NOO and low alcohol beer, wine and spirit.

(01:29):
There's greater choice out there. But I think the important
thing here is better for lavor and I think that's
what's entosting. If you like our drinkers in New Zealand
to drink in a pretty responsible way.

Speaker 1 (01:40):
Yeah. Actually, I've just been told Virginia in my ear
that it's not zebra stripping. It's zebra striping apparently.

Speaker 2 (01:47):
Yeah, that's right.

Speaker 1 (01:49):
Sorry for confusing that. What I like to do is
buy a six pack of low car beers. I started
drinking low car beers just to keep the belly in check.
And then I will I some either zero alcohol or
some fizzy drinks or something to have afterwards, because you
still want to have a bit more to drink, but
you don't necessarily want to hangover.

Speaker 2 (02:09):
Yeah. Absolutely, and I certainly agree with that. I mean,
across the New Zealand adult population, what we're finding is
we're seeing the rise of low and non alcohol drinks.
And what we're finding from independent consumer research, fifty five
percent of respondent said they actually drank low alcohol beverages
in the last year, up from forty percent four years ago.
So many reasons why we're doing it, and some of

(02:31):
them might be what you've just talked about, Ryan, but
things like you know, because you're driving, tracking beverage consumption,
health and wealth being reasons, and for a lower calorie drink. Yeah.

Speaker 1 (02:40):
Interesting, interesting, isn't it. I mean people are obviously wanting
to have fun but also keep fit these days, aren't they. Virginia,
thank you for that, No, thank you, appreciate your time.
Virginia Nichols, who is with the New Zealand Alcohol Beverages Council.
I really want to come up with a definition for
zebra stripping there. I think we should still clear of that.

(03:01):
Its something to do with animals. I don't know, something
maybe a bit weird or is it taking your clothes
off while walking across the pedestrian cross. He's a good one.
Not recommended for you today, New Zealand. Don't go and
do that, but you want to keep you want to
keep thaying I'd rather get my calories from Paster than
booze personally. For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen

(03:22):
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