Tesco reportedly expects shoppers to drink less alcohol this Christmas, with growing demand for healthier food and drink shaping festive shopping habits.

Chief executive Ken Murphy said customers were increasingly opting for low and no-alcohol alternatives, including ready-mixed mocktails, as part of a wider shift towards healthier lifestyles.

Murphy said the trend had been building since the pandemic, with younger consumers leading the change before it spread to other age groups.

“I do think it could be a marginally healthier Christmas although customers do love to indulge,” he said.

The Tesco boss expects a more moderate approach to alcohol consumption over the festive period, with shoppers showing greater interest in products that support healthier eating and drinking habits.

He also pointed to growing demand for nutritionally balanced meals, smaller portions and products containing more protein and fibre.

The growing popularity of weight-loss drugs has been raised as one key factor for this change, although Murphy suggested these were only one element influencing changing consumer habits.

Despite the shift towards healthier choices, Tesco is expecting shoppers to continue spending on festive treats.

Murphy said UK consumers had remained resilient despite rising living costs and wider economic uncertainty, with households still keen to celebrate Christmas.

“I think consumers in the UK have been pretty resilient in a very uncertain environment,” he said.

Tesco has increased its stock of key Christmas products, including festive food, and expanded its online grocery delivery capacity by 10 per cent in preparation for the peak trading period.

It is also investing in its rapid delivery service Whoosh and has signed new partnerships, including with Deliveroo, to meet demand for convenience.

Tesco’s premium Finest range recorded a 9% increase in sales during the first half of the year, reflecting continued demand for higher-end food products.

It reported a two per cent increase in first-half sales to £33.8bn for the 26 weeks to 29 August, while adjusted operating profit rose 6.5 per cent to £1.78bn.

Tesco also upgraded its full-year adjusted operating profit forecast to between £3.15bn and £3.3bn, compared with its previous guidance of £3bn to £3.3bn.

Sign up here to get the latest grocery and food news each morning