NA Kegs vs Cans in the Office: Cost, Experience, and Waste Compared
Should your office stock NA cans or install a keg? We break down cost per serving, waste output, and employee experience to help you decide.
The Office Beverage Dilemma
More offices are stocking non-alcoholic options as part of their wellness perks. But the format matters - a lot.
Let's compare NA kegs on tap versus canned NA beverages across three dimensions that office managers actually care about.
Cost Per Serving
| Format | Cost per serving | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Canned NA beer (12 oz) | $2.50-4.00 | Retail pricing, bulk discounts limited |
| Keg pour (12 oz) | $1.20-2.00 | PourZero pricing, includes delivery |
Winner: Kegs - 40-50% less per serving at scale.
Waste Output
A typical office of 50 people consuming 20 cans/week generates:
- 1,040 cans per year (even recycled, that's significant processing energy)
- Cardboard packaging, plastic rings, shipping materials
A keg system generates:
- ~12 kegs per year (returned and refilled)
- Zero single-use packaging
Winner: Kegs - dramatically less waste.
Employee Experience
Cans are… fine. They sit in a fridge. Nobody gets excited about a fridge full of cans.
A tap system creates a social moment. It's a gathering point. It signals that your company invests in culture, not just calories. Employees consistently rate tap beverages as a top-3 office perk alongside coffee and snacks.
Winner: Kegs - by a mile.
When Cans Make Sense
- Very small teams (under 10 people)
- Remote-first companies sending care packages
- Testing flavors before committing to a keg
The Verdict
For any office with 15+ people, kegs win on every metric: cost, waste, and experience. The upfront setup is minimal (we provide the equipment), and the ongoing savings compound fast.
