The new pint comes amidst a major shift in the way Britain drinks, driven by a rise in moderation among Gen Z and a growing focus on health and well-being among drinkers of all ages.
Nearly half of all young adults are now choosing “no and low” alcohol drinks, nearly double the level since 2018.
The most popular of these is Guinness 0.0 which has rapidly become the UK’s number one alcohol-free choice. Figures released over summer 2025 showed that the alcohol-free brand is worth almost £50m.
‘Trying to regurgitate the same products’
However publicans in Britain are also sceptical about the new 60/40 blend. Claire Alexander, owner of the Killingworth Castle pub in Wootton, Oxfordshire, called the new brew “another gimmick”.
She told The Telegraph: “It sounds like another gimmick. I think they are constantly trying to regurgitate the same products and I think Guinness drinkers are quite loyal to the brand and will be wondering why they have done it.
“It muddies the water with ABV and how much you can drink and drive and I think it’s probably safer to have the normal Guinness or the no-alcohol Guinness, which is actually quite popular. It’s one of the non-alcoholic drinks that people actually like.
“So it’s just confusing things with alcohol consumption and it’s gimmicky.”
She doubts the concoction will catch on: “I think if you’re a Guinness drinker you either drink the real thing or, if you’re driving, you go for the zero alcohol. I don’t think there’s a need for it.
“Why muck up something that’s been so successful for so long?”
The new brew is not being rolled out by Guinness itself, with individual pubs choosing to introduce the hybrid brew.
