The Short Answer
In the United States: non-alcoholic can contain up to 0.5% ABV. Alcohol-free means 0.0% ABV. In the UK: the threshold for "low alcohol" is 1.2% ABV; "alcohol-free" is under 0.05% ABV. Labels vary by country.
The Full Breakdown
United States (TTB Rules)
The U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) sets the definitions:
| Label | Maximum ABV | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Alcoholic | Up to 0.5% ABV | Athletic Brewing, Lyre's, Ghia |
| Alcohol-Free | 0.0% ABV | Heineken 0.0, Freixenet 0.0, Giesen 0% |
Is 0.5% ABV Actually Safe?
For most people, yes. To put 0.5% ABV in context: ripe bananas contain about 0.4% ABV through natural fermentation. A glass of orange juice contains trace amounts of ethanol. Your body produces small amounts of ethanol naturally through normal digestion.
At 0.5% ABV, you would need to drink an enormous quantity — many liters — to register a blood alcohol level. For virtually everyone, drinks at this level have no intoxicating effect.
When It Matters: Pregnancy and Recovery
⚠️ Important: Consult Your Doctor
Pregnancy: Most medical guidelines recommend avoiding all alcohol during pregnancy, including trace amounts. If you're pregnant and want to consume NA drinks, choose certified 0.0% ABV products (like Heineken 0.0) and confirm with your healthcare provider.
Recovery: For people in recovery from alcohol use disorder, even NA drinks can be triggering — not because of the trace alcohol content, but because of behavioral associations. This is deeply personal. Many people in recovery choose to avoid NA beer and spirits entirely; others find them helpful. There is no universally right answer. If you're in recovery, discuss this with your support network and healthcare provider.
Certifiably 0.0% ABV Brands
If you need true 0.0% ABV, here are verified options:
Heineken 0.0
Beer · Available everywhere
Freixenet 0.0
Sparkling Wine · Total Wine, World Market
Giesen 0% Sauvignon Blanc
White Wine · Total Wine, select stores
Lyre's (all expressions)
Spirits · lyres.com, Total Wine
Ritual Zero Proof (all)
Spirits · Most bars, Total Wine
Aplós
Hemp Spirit · aplos.com
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All products on this site are labeled with their ABV so you always know what you're getting.