The market for nonalcoholic drinks has been growing as more people — notably younger adults — look to cut their alcohol use. Bowdring says there’s emerging evidence that nonalcoholic beverages may prime kids to switch to the real thing. Surveys of elementary, middle and high school students in Japan, where the legal drinking age is 20, found that 20% to 30% said they were drinking nonalcoholic beverages. So minors in those states can buy nonalcoholic drinks but not those with low levels of alcohol. For minors, there’s no benefit in consuming nonalcoholic drinks, and there is some evidence of potential harm, she said — which is why she thinks states need to step in to curb sales.

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