Map / Guide
0.0%, alcohol-free or non-alcoholic?
Last checked 20 October 2026
The words on a beer label do not mean the same thing everywhere. A beer sold as "alcohol-free" in Germany could not use that word in the UK. Here is what the labels mean, and how to choose.
The short answer
- 0.0%: no alcohol is declared on the label. The clearest choice if you must avoid alcohol completely.
- Under 0.5%: sold as non-alcoholic, and in much of Europe as alcohol-free. It can contain a trace of alcohol.
- Anything above 0.5% is not alcohol-free, whatever the name says. San Mig Zero, for example, is 3% ABV.
What the words mean, by country
| Country | Label | Alcohol allowed |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Non-alcoholic | Less than 0.5%, and the label must say so next to the term |
| United States | Alcohol free | None |
| United Kingdom | Alcohol-free | 0.05% or less (a change to 0.5% is under consideration) |
| United Kingdom | De-alcoholised | 0.5% or less |
| United Kingdom | Low alcohol | 1.2% or less |
| Netherlands | Alcoholvrij | 0.1% or less |
| Germany | Alkoholfrei | Less than 0.5% |
Most European countries that set an "alcohol-free" threshold use 0.5%. In Germany, brewers only have to print the exact alcohol content from 1.2% upwards, so check for a 0.0% figure if it matters to you.
Why ZeroBeer uses 0.5%
0.5% is the most common international line for non-alcoholic beer, so it is the limit for the map. Every beer shows the figure from its label, so you can pick 0.0% when you need it. Beers above 0.5% are blocked, even when the name says "Zero".
Questions
Is 0.0% beer really alcohol-free?
A 0.0% label means no alcohol is declared. It is the clearest choice if you must avoid alcohol completely. Labels marked under 0.5% can contain a trace of alcohol.
Is 0.5% beer alcohol-free?
It depends on the country. In Germany and most of Europe, beer under 0.5% can be sold as alcohol-free. In the UK, alcohol-free means 0.05% or less, and in the Netherlands alcoholvrij beer may contain at most 0.1%. In the US, beer under 0.5% is called non-alcoholic, and only beer with no alcohol at all may say alcohol free.
What does non-alcoholic beer mean in the US?
Under US federal rules (27 CFR 7.65), a malt beverage labelled non-alcoholic must also say that it contains less than 0.5 percent alcohol by volume. The term alcohol free is allowed only when the drink contains no alcohol.
What does alcohol-free mean in the UK?
Under the UK government's labelling guidance, alcohol-free means 0.05% ABV or less, de-alcoholised means 0.5% or less, and low alcohol means 1.2% or less. The government has said it is considering raising the alcohol-free threshold to 0.5%; as of mid-2026 the 0.05% figure still applies.
Which beer should I choose if I must avoid alcohol completely?
Choose a beer labelled 0.0% and read the label each time. If you avoid alcohol for medical reasons, in pregnancy or for religious reasons, ask your doctor or adviser. A 0.0% label does not mean a drink is halal-certified.
Sources
- TTB: malt beverage alcohol content (27 CFR 7.65)
- FoodNavigator, July 2026: the UK alcohol-free threshold debate
- Radar (AVROTROS): alcoholvrij bier and the 0.1% limit
- Lebensmittel Praxis: was bedeutet alkoholfrei
This page is general information, not legal or medical advice. Rules change; check the label and the rules where you are.