SALES of low-alcohol beer are set to rocket next year as Britons embrace healthier lifestyles.

Brewers are trying to overturn traditional drinking habits with the launch of a record number of mid-strength' beers.

A declining market has prompted brewers to launch a range of zero-alcohol and low-strength beers to tempt those shunning strong lagers.

Sales of both non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beers have risen by 4% over the past 12 months, mostly due to supermarket sales, said market researcher firm AC Nielsen.

Now industry experts are forecasting near double-digit growth in the low-alcohol beer market.

Carlsberg's C2 lager, which has an alcohol level of 2%, and a taste similar to normal strength lager is already popular with people worried about drink driving and lunchtime drinkers.

Meanwhile, brewing giant Scottish and Newcastle is testing a 2% alcohol version of Foster's in the north-east of England.

Guinness has a mid-strength version of its famous stout being trialled in Ireland and Carlsberg is selling a non-alcoholic version of Holsten lager and a 3% Skol.

Low-alcohol lagers bombed when first introduced in Britain in the 1980s.

However, modern-day brewing techniques have allowed beer firms to produce low and mid-strength beers with vastly improved taste.