Over the past decade, zero-alcohol drinks have gone from a relatively niche product to a staple of our supermarket aisles, bottle stores and pubs.

Their rising appeal in New Zealand and around the world isn’t difficult to understand. Patrons can enjoy the closest thing there is to beer or wine, but without the alcohol, they don’t need to worry about taxi fares or hangovers.

But how do young people view these products? Might they offer an alternative for teenagers as they begin navigating social situations where their peers are drinking?

Or, more concerningly, could products designed to look, taste and feel like alcoholic drinks simply reinforce long-standing problems with New Zealand’s drinking culture?

Our recently published research suggests these booze-free options can indeed fulfil some of the social and symbolic roles young people associate with drinking.

But there are important limits to what they can replace.

Why do young people drink?

The health harms of alcohol are well established – and they rarely stop with the drinker, extending outward to affect partners, families and entire........

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