Are you dreaming of a booze-free Christmas? Join the (soda) club

The market in no- and low-alcohol drinks is booming in the UK as more people swap the festive hangover for mindful drinking

The concept of a Christmas without champagne, wine or whisky is counterintuitive to many. But this festive season, growing numbers of Britons are eschewing alcohol and gearing up for a teetotal - or at least partially so - celebration, according to retailers.

Sales in the no- and low-alcohol category, also known as NoLo", are expected to grow by 17% in the UK this year, reports IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, and will hit almost 19 million cases and a value of $741m (558m). Meanwhile, Sainsbury's, Waitrose and Tesco all report that sales of NoLo drinks have seen huge rises year on year, a trend they expect to continue in the run-up to Christmas, amid a rise in mindful drinking".