Heineken 0.0 Hits 1,000th UK Tap
- Denise Hamilton-Mace
- Apr 12
- 3 min read
In a significant milestone for the alcohol-free drinks industry, Heineken 0.0 has officially become the most widely available non-alcoholic draught beer in the UK, with taps now installed in 1,000 pubs nationwide.
The historic 1,000th tap was unveiled at the Clerk & Well pub in Clerkenwell, London, with Welsh footballing legend Gareth Bale doing the reveal honours.
As a Heineken 0.0 ambassador and someone who doesn't drink alcohol, Bale's involvement highlights how non-alcoholic options are becoming increasingly mainstream:
"As someone who doesn't drink, I love that no and low alcohol options like Heineken 0.0 allow me to enjoy a night out with friends, some great beer, and I still wake up feeling fresh – all while being the healthier choice too," said Bale at the celebration event.
The five-time Champions League winner, who retired from football aged 33, has since focused on advocating for men's health and fitness while demonstrating that giving up alcohol doesn't mean giving up your social life – a message that resonates deeply with many in Low No Nation.
Breaking Records Beyond the Bar
To commemorate this achievement, Heineken orchestrated an impressive Guinness World Record attempt, bringing together 114 publicans and brewers from across the UK to simultaneously pour pints of either Heineken or Heineken 0.0 via a mass video call. In just 10 seconds, they set a new world record for the largest-ever simultaneous pint pour in history.
Normalising Alcohol-Free Choices
This milestone represents more than just numbers – it's about changing perceptions and making alcohol-free options more accessible. Will Rice, On-Trade Director for Heineken UK, notes:
"If we want non-alcoholic beer to be treated the same as other beer, we need to give it the same visibility too."
I couldn't agree more! Recent data suggests that over a third (33.5%) of UK adults are drinking no-and-low alternatives more frequently now than a year ago, and it should be as easy for us as it is for any other drinker.
A Sign of Changing Times
Nick Marks, Group Commercial Director at Stonegate Group, which runs the Clerk & Well, acknowledged this cultural shift: "As consumer drinking habits evolve, the demand for no and low alcohol options has grown significantly in recent years. At Stonegate Group, we're committed to offering a diverse and inclusive range of drinks, ensuring all our guests can enjoy a great experience in our pubs, bars, and clubs – whatever their preference."
With Heineken 0.0 now available in approximately one in every three pubs across the UK, just three years after its launch, the landscape for those of us who enjoy the occasional alcohol-free pint is looking better than ever.
And according to Heineken, this is just the beginning. "We won't be stopping at 1,000 taps," Rice promised thedrinksbusiness.com, "The more taps, the better for the public and the better for publicans."
The Need for AF Draught
For those of us navigating the spectrum of low/no drinking choices, having quality alcohol-free options available on draught when we're out socialising is a genuine game-changer. The days of being limited to sugary soft drinks or plain water while our friends enjoy a pint are thankfully becoming a thing of the past.
As Lawson Mountstevens, Managing Director Star Pub at Heineken UK, said to cardifflife.wales:
"Part of the ritual of going to the pub is watching your pint being freshly poured from the tap -the tilt of the glass, the smooth cascade, and mouthwatering anticipation of the first sip. This draught experience is central to pub culture, and for non-alcoholic beer to become truly mainstream, it needs to be part of that experience. It needs to be poured from the tap like any other pint, not just another option in the fridge. That's why we're committed to getting 0.0 on draught in pubs everywhere, because everyone deserves a proper pint, with or without alcohol."
What's on draught at your local?
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