The reduction of the potency of alcoholic products without compromising consumer preferences has been suggested as possibility to decrease alcohol-related harms. There is some evidence that a large percentage of the population may not be able to differentiate between different strengths of alcohol such as spirits with differences of less than 10% vol. As novelty product, alcohol-free spirits were introduced into the market with claims that they would be indistinguishable from normal spirits. By testing three products using ISO 4120 methodology, these claims could not be verified as the products were significantly different and the test panel was able to correctly assign the alcoholic strength. The taste of ethanol apparently cannot be simulated with the current technology. From a public health point of view, it would thus be more promising to offer alcohol-reduced spirits rather than alcohol-free spirits. Taxation by pure alcohol content could relatively favour this segment of the alcohol market.