Dealcoholised wine : motivations, preferences and perceptions of South African Generation Y consumers

Date
2022-04
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH SUMMARY: Alcohol plays a major role in the daily lives of millions of consumers around the world. It has played a central role throughout the development of humankind and has become one of the most widely produced and consumed substances in the world, with deep social and cultural roots. However, a growth in interest for low and non-alcoholic beverage alternatives has become apparent, believed to be credited to a shift towards health-consciousness and a greater focus on wellness and mental well-being, particularly by Generation Y consumers. Despite the growing interest in the low and non-alcoholic beverage industry, certain products, such as dealcoholised wine, have not seen comparative success compared with other products within this category such as light and alcohol-free beer. In addition, several potential challenges have been identified that may prevent the wider acceptance and growth for low and non-alcoholic beverage products. These potential challenges are believed to be attributed to poor taste, a lack of awareness, a lack of availability, a lack of appeal to male consumers and a general stigma attached to not drinking alcohol. Therefore, there was a need to investigate what motivates Generation Y consumers to purchase dealcoholised wine and the preferences and perceptions that they have about dealcoholised wine. For this study, a two-phased research approach was taken, involving a main quantitative phase, preceded by a qualitative phase. A focus group was conducted to confirm and refine items and assisted in developing a self-administered, non-interactive questionnaire that was used in the quantitative phase of the study. A sample of 626 South African Generation Y male and female dealcoholised wine consumers was obtained through judgement sampling. “Taste”, “price” and “I have tried it before” were identified as the most important considerations for respondents of the realised sample when purchasing dealcoholised wine, with “taste” being significantly more important and different compared to other attributes. Overall, the sample seem to be motivated to purchase dealcoholised wine predominantly for reasons such as “to avoid drinking and driving”, “I like the taste”, “to reduce my alcohol intake” and “to avoid getting drunk”, which are mainly functional in nature. In terms of motives not to purchase dealcoholised wine, respondents of the total realised sample were seemingly most bothered by “limited availability”, “it is difficult to find”, “lower quality than regular wine” and “I dislike the taste”. Lastly, the sample perceive dealcoholised wine as a healthier, but more expensive alternative to wine. A number of differences were found when comparing the motives, preferences and perceptions of South African Generation Y male and female consumers. This pioneering study contributes to the limited existing knowledge in the field of low and non-alcoholic beverages, from a marketing and consumer behaviour perspective. Furthermore, the study provides insights into overcoming existing potential challenges to the wider acceptance of low and non-alcoholic beverages such as dealcoholised wine.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Alkohol speel ’n groot rol in die daaglikse lewe van miljoene verbruikers oor die wêreld heen. Dit het ’n sentrale rol gespeel in die ontwikkeling van die mens en het een van die mees algemeen geproduseerde en verbruikte substansies in die wêreld geword, met diep sosiale en kulturele wortels. ’n Groeiende belangstelling in lae en nie-alkoholiese drankies is vermoedelik te danke aan ’n beweging na gesondheidsbewustheid en ’n groter fokus op fisiese en geestelike welstand, veral onder verbruikers in Generasie Y. Ten spyte van die toename in belangstelling in die lae en alkohol-vrye drankbedryf, het sekere produkte, soos alkoholvrye wyn, nie vergelykbare sukses ervaar nie in vergelyking met ander produkte in hierdie kategorie soos ligte en alkoholvrye bier. Boonop is verskeie hindernisse geïdentifiseer wat wyer aanvaarding en groei van lae en nie-alkoholiese drankprodukte verhoed. Hierdie hindernisse word toegeskryf aan onbevredigende smaak, ’n gebrek aan bewustheid, ’n gebrek aan beskikbaarheid, ’n gebrek aan aantrekkingskrag vir manlike verbruikers en ’n algemene stigma verbonde daaraan om nie alkohol te drink nie. ‘n Behoefte is dus geïdentifiseer om te ondersoek wat Generasie Y verbruikers motiveer om alkoholvrye wyn te koop en die voorkeure en persepsies wat hulle het oor alkoholvrye wyn. Vir hierdie studie is ’n Twee-fase benadering gebruik wat insluit ’n hoof- kwantitatiewe fase, voorafgegaan deur ’n kwalitatiewe fase. ’n Fokusgroep is gehou ten einde items te bevestig en te verfyn wat gehelp het om ’n self-geadministreerde, nie-interaktiewe vraelys te ontwikkel wat gebruik is in die kwantitatiewe fase van die studie. ’n monster van 626 Suid-Afrikaanse Generasie Y manlike en vroulike verbruikers van alkoholvrye wyn is verkry deur oordeel-monsters. “Smaak”, “prys” en “ek het dit al voorheen probeer” is geïdentifiseer as die belangrikste oorweging vir die lede van die monster-groep wanneer alkoholvrye wyne gekoop is, met “smaak” wat aansienlik belangriker en anders was in vergelyking met ander eienskappe. Algeheel lyk dit asof die lede van die monster-groep gemotiveer was om alkoholvrye wyn te koop hoofsaaklik vir redes soos “om drink en bestuur te vermy”, “ek hou van die smaak”, “om my alkohol-inname te verminder” en “om dronkenskap te vermy”, wat hoofsaaklik funksioneel van natuur is. In terme van motiewe om nie alkoholvrye wyn te koop nie, was respondente van die totaal gerealiseerde monster greop skynbaar veral gepla deur “beperkte beskikbaarheid”, “dit is moeilik om te vind”, “laer kwaliteit as gewone wyn” en “ek hou nie van die smaak nie”. Laastens het die respondente alkoholvrye wyn gesien as ’n gesonder, maar duurder alternatief vir wyn. ’n Aantal verskille is gevind wanneer die motiewe, voorkeure en persepsies van Suid-Afrikaanse Generasie Y manlike en vroulike verbruikers vergelyk is. Hierdie baanbreker-studie dra by tot die beperkte bestaande kennis in die veld van lae en nie-alkoholiese drankies, vanuit ’n bemarking- en verbruikers-perspektief. Die studie verskaf verdere insigte verkry in die oorkoming van bestaande hindernisse tot wyer aanvaarding van lae en nie-alkoholiese drankies soos alkoholvrye wyn.
Description
Thesis (MCom)--Stellenbosch University, 2022.
Keywords
Non-alcoholic wines -- South Africa, Non-alcoholic beverages -- South Africa, Consumers -- Decision making -- South Africa, Non-alcoholic beverages -- Health aspects -- South Africa, Consumer behavior -- South Africa, Generation Y, UCTD
Citation