At 8.1% France had the EU’s highest percentage of its beer production, exports and imports which is alcohol-free last year, according to Eurostat. Germany, which produced three times as much beer, came a close second. Hungary and the Czech Republic pushed Spain, the EU’s second largest beer producer, down to fifth place in terms of alcohol-free share but was comfortably above the EU average 5.6%. Belgium, the bloc’s third biggest beer producer, failed to qualify because there are no alcohol-free beer production figures, as was also the case with Italy. The numbers were also lacking for the Netherlands. ■
Note: The role alcohol-free beer might have in alcohol harm is unclear. It might help in some ways and might contribute to problems in others. More research is needed. There’s a discussion here.