Parvati Perman-Howe is a Research Associate in the Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG). Her background is in public health. Parvati’s current and previous research uses both quantitative and qualitative methods to understand who, how and why people use alcohol and nicotine/tobacco products, and to assess interventions that aim to disrupt their use. Parvati is also an advocate for public involvement in research and leads the public involvement strand on two projects which look at the public health impact of alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks, and of the 2024 alcohol duty reforms.

Abstract

Exploring how alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks are embedded in the everyday lives of people in recovery from alcohol dependence, and high-risk drinkers who are trying to reduce their alcohol intake

Alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks (no/lo drinks) are becoming increasingly popular in Great Britain. There is little evidence on how their growing popularity affects groups of people who may be at increased risk of alcohol-related harm including those in recovery from alcohol dependence. This presentation will summarise the findings from a qualitative focus group study which looked at whether, how and why no/lo drinks are embedded (or not embedded) in the everyday lives of people in recovery from alcohol dependence and high-risk drinkers who are trying to reduce their alcohol intake. In-person and online focus groups (n=9 focus groups) were conducted in England and Scotland in March and April 2025 with people who are in recovery from alcohol dependence (n=22 participants), and high-risk drinkers who have tried to reduce their alcohol intake in the past 12-months (n=31 participants). The data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The findings will be presented separately for the two groups and then overarching themes across the two groups will be highlighted.