Non-alcoholic drinks attract a lot less tax in Australia. So why are they often just as expensive?

Manufacturers and smaller brewers say production costs of no- or low-alcoholic beverages are expensive, but experts say some companies are simply charging more because they can. Photograph: Martin Berry/Alamy

Choosing to cut back on alcohol this summer? Australians looking for something that imitates the real thing might be taken aback by the price.

“Nolo” drinks with little to no alcohol content are often comparable in cost to their alcoholic counterparts – or even more expensive.