Non-alcoholic beer is not as healthy as you think, says new study — as sales for it surge higher than ale
Want a brewski without the buzz? Make sure you read the fine print.
New research suggests that many low and no-alcohol beers aren't as healthy as they seem — even if you're cutting back on booze.
The warning comes as non-alcoholic beer sales show no signs of slowing, with sales expected to surpass ale as the world's second-largest beer category this year, according to industry tracker IWSR.
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5 A growing number of young people are turning their backs on alcohol.
Sirichai – stock.adobe.com
In the study, scientists split 44 healthy young men into two groups: one drank two bottles of non-alcoholic beer a day, while the other stuck with water over a four-week period.
The researchers conducted regular blood tests to monitor changes in blood sugar, cholesterol, liver function, body fat and even gut bacteria.
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The results weren't exactly refreshing.
Men who drank the alcohol-free beers saw significant spikes in their blood sugar and insulin, along with increases in harmful cholesterol and triglycerides — blood fats linked to heart disease.
Zero-proof wheat beers and fruity blends, like those mixed with orange or lemon soda, were the worst offenders. Pilsner-style non-alcoholic brews fared slightly better.
5 Some non-alcoholic beers contain large amounts of added sugars.
bit24 – stock.adobe.com
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Researchers said that was 'probably due to the caloric and sugar content' of the drinks.
This, they warned, can drive drive weight gain and help fuel chronic conditions like obesity, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
Those health risks mirror what nutrition labels already show.
Non-alcoholic and regular beers are similar in calories, protein and fat, but they have major differences in their amounts of alcohol and carbs, according to Healthline.
Advertisement
5 Even beers marketed as alcohol-free contain traces of booze.
maeching – stock.adobe.com
A standard 12-ounce beer with 5% ABV contains around 14 grams of alcohol.
Compare that to a booze-free version, which contains just 0.5% ABV or less and only about one gram of alcohol per serving.
But despite the lack of booze, the products often contain a similar number of calories.
That's because non-alcoholic beers typically pack more than twice the carbs of regular ones, mostly in the form of sugar, which is commonly added to improve flavor after the alcohol is removed.
For example, Coors Light has 5.8 grams of carbs and just 0.3 grams of sugar per 12-ounce serving. Coors Edge, its non-alcoholic counterpart, has 8 grams of carbs and 4 grams of sugar.
5 Some nonalcoholic beers, like some made by Guinness, contain no added sugars.
bizoo_n – stock.adobe.com
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But not all booze-free brews are created equal.
A 2025 analysis by telehealth company Hims found that top-selling brands from Suntory, Guinness and BrewDog rank as the most health-conscious picks, with the lowest calories, carbs and no added sugars.
Health over hangovers
The findings comes as non-alcoholic beer continues its meteoric rise.
Advertisement
IWSR projects the category will grow by 8% annually through 2029, while traditional ale is expected to slip 2% each year over the same period.
Much of that growth is being fueled by younger drinkers. Gen Z and younger millennials are increasingly turning their backs on booze, with a 2023 Gallup poll showing just 62% of adults under 35 say they drink at all — down from 72% two decades earlier.
Even those who do drink are leaning into trends like 'Zebra striping,' 'damp drinking' and 'Dry January,' where moderation — not abstinence — is the goal.
5 Young people are moderating their alcohol intake.
olly – stock.adobe.com
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'I think people in my generation are more conscious of their health and don't see drinking as a social obligation,' 24-year-old Kathleen Saloma previously told The Post.
Even with extra sugar in some zero-proof beers, experts say any effort to cut down on alcohol is good for your health both now and in the future.
'Drinking too much alcohol in a short period can lead to dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, impaired coordination and poor judgment,' Amy Stephens, a sports dietitian for NYU Athletics, previously told The Post.
Advertisement
She noted that it also increases the risk of dangerous situations, including unsafe sex and drink driving, and can cause alcohol poisoning, blackouts or memory loss.
Long-term, the dangers are even more sobering.
'Consistently drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can cause serious health problems,' Stephens said. 'That includes alcohol dependence, liver damage, heart issues, digestive troubles like ulcers and pancreatitis, and cognitive decline.'
In January, the surgeon general issued an advisory linking even small amounts of alcohol to increased risk for seven cancers — including breast and colorectal.
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Non-alcoholic beer is not as healthy as you think, says new study — as sales for it surge higher than ale
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