What is alcohol-free cider?
Alcohol-free cider is cider from which the alcohol has been removed. In England, government guidance says "alcohol free" should be used only for such drinks at no more than 0.05% ABV, "de-alcoholised" at no more than 0.5%, and "low alcohol" at 1.2% or below. Rules differ elsewhere, so check the ABV on the label.
Updated
The descriptors in England
| Descriptor | Condition in DHSC guidance (England, voluntary) |
|---|---|
| Low alcohol | 1.2% ABV or below, with the maximum ABV on the label |
| De-alcoholised | Alcohol extracted; no more than 0.5% ABV |
| Alcohol free | Alcohol extracted; no more than 0.05% ABV |
| Non-alcoholic | Should not be used with a name associated with an alcoholic drink |
Source: [1]. The guidance says drinks of 1.2% ABV or below must carry nutrition and ingredients information. [1] DHSC has since consulted on updating these descriptors. [2]
How is alcohol-free cider made?
The guidance describes "alcohol free" and "de-alcoholised" drinks as drinks "from which the alcohol has been extracted". [1] So the starting point is a fermented cider; the guide on how cider is made explains the fermentation. That is different from unfermented apple juice, which in the US is often called sweet or fresh cider; see what sweet cider is.
What do the rules say elsewhere?
- UK licensing. For the Licensing Act 2003 (England and Wales), "alcohol" does not include drinks of 0.5% ABV or less. [3]
- EU. Drinks with more than 1.2% alcohol must show their actual alcoholic strength by volume. [4] [5]
- US. "Sparkling cider" can be a carbonated juice or an alcoholic cider; see is sparkling cider alcoholic.
How do I check a bottle?
- Read the ABV statement first; the descriptor alone is not enough.
- Look for "alcohol free", "de-alcoholised" or "low alcohol", and compare with the table above if you are in England.
- For a regular cider, see the glossary entry for hard cider and how many units are in cider.
Related answers: what sweet cider is · is sparkling cider alcoholic
Find it on Cider Radar
- Scan a label in Cider Radar to open the bottle card with tasting notes and community ratings.
- Guide: how strong is cider? · Guide: what is cider?
- Open the map: app.ciderradar.com · iPhone · Android
Dates in this answer were checked on 2 October 2026 and are due for review by April 2027.
Cider, perry, calvados and pommeau are alcoholic drinks. Enjoy responsibly and follow the legal drinking age where you live.
Questions
Is alcohol-free cider 0%?
Not always. In England's guidance, "alcohol free" allows up to 0.05% ABV and "de-alcoholised" up to 0.5%. [1] The label should show the ABV or say it contains no alcohol.
Is non-alcoholic cider the same?
England's guidance says "non-alcoholic" should not be used with a name commonly associated with an alcoholic drink, with an exception for communion wine. [1] In the US, unfermented apple juice is often sold as "sweet cider"; see what sweet cider is.
Is the guidance changing?
The Department of Health and Social Care has consulted on updating the low and no alcohol descriptors. [2] Its 2025 10 Year Health Plan says it "will consult on changing the upper strength threshold at which a drink may be described as alcohol free to 0.5% ABV". [6] Check GOV.UK for the current position.
Sources
- Low alcohol descriptors guidance (Department of Health and Social Care, December 2018) — Department of Health and Social Care (GOV.UK)
- Updating labelling guidance for no and low-alcohol alternatives: consultation — Department of Health and Social Care (GOV.UK)
- Licensing Act 2003, section 191: Meaning of "alcohol" — legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Article 9: List of mandatory particulars — legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers (official EU text) — EUR-Lex (Publications Office of the European Union)
- Fit for the future: 10 Year Health Plan for England — Department of Health and Social Care (GOV.UK)