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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask what you’d think of a colleague drinking 0% beverages at work?

129 replies

intheheatofjuly · 24/08/2026 17:04

Inspired by a LinkedIn post I’ve seen, not a situation I’m in! It’s really made me think because I suppose technically there is a marginal % of alcohol in them and they’re designed to mimic alcoholic drinks.

But in my mind it’s fine because it’s not alcohol! So I thought I’d ask

YABU - they’re not appropriate for the workplace.

YANBU - they’re basically just fizzy juice.

OP posts:
ChocolateApples · 24/08/2026 19:54

Logically it shouldn't be an issue. But I'd kind of rather keep the social, fun time feeling attached to the 0% beer. If I sit drinking it in the office it looses some of that association. Of course the counterargument to that is that I can drink a can of Coke in the office which is also a treat/party drink for me. It's a funny one, but much of the joy of drinking is the association and ritual as much as you the actual flavour.

allgoodhere783 · 24/08/2026 19:47

Fine in my office, even if it wasn't 0%. Obv no one is seriously drunk though

Disappointedlama · 24/08/2026 19:46

It looks unprofessional and I’d think they were attention seeking.

drspouse · 24/08/2026 19:45

I've recently had a diet issue that meant I couldn't drink fruit juice or fizzy drinks, or caffeine. I'm still avoiding some fruit juice and fizzy. This leaves very little to drink except water if it's a hot day. I'd have a zero % beer quite often recently as it's about the only thing I can order and drink. We had a small lunchtime celebration and someone offered me a Nosecco which was actually nice.

I would say the only issue is if anyone (customer, patient, child, parent) smelled beer on your breath. That would be very unprofessional.

Morepositivemum · 24/08/2026 19:42

I know of someone with a drink problem who has started drinking zero percent to try to combat cravings so personally that would be in the back of my mind.

If not that yes I’d think they’re doing it for attention or so they can start an argument with someone!! (I’m having a negative day😅)

Alittlefrustrated · 24/08/2026 19:40

WhyReindeer · 24/08/2026 17:10

If you are talking about drinking alcohol substitutes (like zero % beer or wine) during the working day for example with a sandwich at lunch, I would think it was really odd.

Zero % alcohol is designed to mimic the taste of alcohol. If someone needs to be drinking that in the middle of the working day and can't manage to go 8 - 10 hours without the taste of alcohol, they have a bit of a problem.

And zero % alcohol on delivery requires proof of ID because it is grouped with actual alcohol and it is designed to avoid confusion or mistakes or underage people who shouldn't be drinking mixing it up with actual alcohol. who is to say that the zero % beer bottle hasn't been switched up or refilled.

If you are talking about after work, then it doesn't matter.

Edited

A water bottle, flask, beaker, mug, or can, could be filled with alcohol, so I don't think that's an issue.

Shedsqueek · 24/08/2026 19:38

Im a teacher. I could drink a can of coke and not feel guilty in front of kids but NOT a can of 0% guiness.

CatamaranViper · 24/08/2026 19:37

My old office has a beer fridge which had plenty of non alcoholic options which I would partake in. Occasionally I would have a beer but usually had the car so had the money alcoholic one

bigballofanxiety · 24/08/2026 19:34

BananaPeels · 24/08/2026 19:08

That is very odd. Kids have mocktails all the time surely? Just a mixture of Juices and an umbrella! Just a bit of fun- not a gateway to alcohol dependency. My kids love a Shirley temple.

We were very surprised too. The waitress was very kind about it and offered to make a similar spritz type drink, but said they weren’t allowed to serve from the mocktail menu for under 18s

Jc2001 · 24/08/2026 19:34

powercats · 24/08/2026 17:12

It depends on the job!
Imagine your GP or child’s teacher sipping a pint of 0% guinness or a G&T at their desk!

If it would be appropriate to drink an alcoholic drink then knock yourself out with a 0% drink. Otherwise stick to soft drinks. The ‘look’ of alcohol free drinks is very unprofessional.

If you’re working from home and not coming into contact with clients / the public, then I don’t see an issue though.

Edited

That's an interesting point.

Would people also be happy with their young kids drinking them?

I can't explain why but I would feel uncomfortable drinking one at work. I guess partly I associate the take of beer as something to do to relax, not while I'm working.

Also, even the 0.0 ones contain some alcohol. Just less the. 0.05%

chipsandpeas · 24/08/2026 19:33

wouldnt be a problem in my office

TheWytch · 24/08/2026 19:31

I would have no problem with it.

0% lagers are one of the very few "soft" drinks I can safely consume now NNS are in pretty much all soft drinks. There is only so much sparkling water I can stomach and these are often the only option in the small chain supermarkets.

DierdreDaphne · 24/08/2026 19:28

lalalagarden · 24/08/2026 17:13

I’d question the judgement of someone needing that drink, albeit illusionary, during the working day. It looks needy and/or provocative. Poor optics.

Disagree. The 0% beers are really refreshing and not sweet, unlike almost all other fizzy drinks. No sugar AND no sweeteners (some of the sweeteners.give me diarrhoea!)

I think it does look a bit odd perhaps, but wanting one does not necessarily have anything to do with needing something alcohol like
. Perhaps it's time soft drink manufacturers cane up with some non sweetened drinks that weren't "booze coded" . Like unsweet iced tea or something.

itsgettingweird · 24/08/2026 19:25

When I lived in Spain for a bit between jobs I worked in a cafe bar.

Every morning workers came in for a coffee.
them for lunch and a dorada sin
then for a beer on the way home.

plenty of workers (constriction) onsite would have dorada sin with their lunch.

Im not sure it would be quite as accepted in a corporate office or hospital or school!

But that’s probably classed as double standards!

nomas · 24/08/2026 19:24

Fidgety31 · 24/08/2026 19:11

I would think they had a drink problem

By drinking 0% alcohol drinks? Confused Wouldn’t make them a very successful alcoholic would it?

nomas · 24/08/2026 19:23

likelysuspect · 24/08/2026 19:20

Same here, I work for a front line service in public services. I wouldnt allow my workers to have something like this on their desk

Its like vaping in the office, not allowed.

It’s nothing like vaping Hmm

nomas · 24/08/2026 19:22

lalalagarden · 24/08/2026 17:13

I’d question the judgement of someone needing that drink, albeit illusionary, during the working day. It looks needy and/or provocative. Poor optics.

What if they just like the taste? Confused

likelysuspect · 24/08/2026 19:20

lalalagarden · 24/08/2026 17:13

I’d question the judgement of someone needing that drink, albeit illusionary, during the working day. It looks needy and/or provocative. Poor optics.

Same here, I work for a front line service in public services. I wouldnt allow my workers to have something like this on their desk

Its like vaping in the office, not allowed.

WyrdHag · 24/08/2026 19:18

I wouldn't, but I have been known to have a Trip CBD drink on my lunch break (not in the building though)

Whyhaveibeencutoutofmamsnot · 24/08/2026 19:14

Soft drinks are almost always sweet and sugary or full of sweeteners which I don't really like.
I prefer alcohol free beer as it has a completely different flavour - perhaps hoppy or a deeper fruit flavour. Could do with having different marketing so people don't think you are having alcohol (was taking DGC for walks in the summer and got some unpleasant looks as I enjoyed a cool drink while he slept in the buggy)

Midnightmoonface · 24/08/2026 19:14

Drinking when is the key? At a group lunch?
At their desk at 9am?

EwwStew · 24/08/2026 19:12

I would privately assume they either just really loved the taste or were a recovering functional alcoholic who previously drank in the day.

None of my buisness though really, as long as they aren't alcoholic it doesn't matter (though I suppose it wouldn't look good in certain work places).

Fidgety31 · 24/08/2026 19:11

I would think they had a drink problem

Stressedoutmummyof3 · 24/08/2026 19:09

I'm not sure. I used to work in a nursery and I don't think it would have been acceptable. I imagine some parents might have complained even though it's alcohol free and imagine older children (pre school) might have gone home saying staff were drinking. Just easier to not bother and then have an alcoholic drink (or not) at home later.

BananaPeels · 24/08/2026 19:08

bigballofanxiety · 24/08/2026 18:14

We tried to order a mocktail at Miller and Carter for my 14 year old DD the other day and were told they weren’t allowed to serve mocktails to under 18s because they are designed to replicate mocktails.

That is very odd. Kids have mocktails all the time surely? Just a mixture of Juices and an umbrella! Just a bit of fun- not a gateway to alcohol dependency. My kids love a Shirley temple.

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