Key Takeaways
- Non-alcoholic beer can have up to 0.5% alcohol, which might not be safe for everyone.
- People with alcohol use disorder might be triggered by the smell of non-alcoholic beer.
- Pregnant people should avoid non-alcoholic beer due to the risk of any amount of alcohol.
Non-alcoholic beer is often presented as a safe alternative to alcohol, but it is important to be aware of the risks before trying it. It may seem like a great choice if you are trying to limit your alcohol use since non-alcoholic beer often smells and tastes similar to alcoholic beers.
However, there are dangers of non-alcoholic beer that should be considered, particularly for those with alcohol use problems and pregnant people. This article discusses why non-alcoholic beer, sometimes called ‘near beer,’ might not be your best option.
What Is Non-Alcoholic Beer?
Non-alcoholic beer is a type of beer that has very little or no alcohol. It is usually produced by removing the alcohol from regular alcoholic beer.
While this process removes most alcohol, some small amounts may remain. For example, where a regular beer contains approximately 14 grams of alcohol, a non-alcohol beer typically contains approximately one gram of alcohol.
When the beer is filtered, both the water content and alcohol are removed so liquid must be added after the process is complete. The beer is then carbonated, and sugars and other flavorings may be added for taste. Because of this, the carbohydrate content is much higher in non-alcoholic beer than in regular beer.
The amount of alcohol these products contain varies, so it is important to check labels before consuming them. Some claim that they contain 0.0% ABV. However, by law, non-alcoholic beers can have as much as 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV).
While non-alcoholic beer can contain up to 0.5% ABV, products marketed as alcohol-free are required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to contain 0.0% ABV, meaning there are no detectable levels of alcohol in the product.
The Possible Dangers of Non-Alcoholic Beer
While non-alcoholic beer might be an option for some people, it comes with potential dangers, particularly for certain populations.
May Still Contain Alcohol
Despite the FDA requirements, research suggests that many non-alcoholic beers contain more alcohol than their labels indicate. One older study found that of no- or low-alcohol-content beers tested, 29% of them had higher alcohol levels than the labels suggested. Of the zero-alcohol beers sampled, six were found to have alcohol levels higher than one percent.
Research has also found that people with liver impairments may develop much higher blood alcohol levels than normal after consuming non-alcoholic beer. This may cause some people to test positive on alcohol urine or breath tests.
May Trigger Relapse
Non-alcoholic beer smells very much like regular beer. In one research study, a team of California scientists reports that smell may be enough to trigger cravings and a subsequent relapse among certain people with alcohol use disorder.
In their laboratory experiments, rats were trained to self-administer alcohol or a bitter, white substance called quinine when they smelled orange or banana. The smell of banana was used when the rats consumed alcohol, while the scent of orange was presented to them when they tasted quinine.
Both alcohol and the anticipation of alcohol may raise levels of a brain chemical called dopamine, which plays a role in feelings of elation and pleasure, according to the investigators. The researchers found increases in dopamine in the rats’ brains before and after smelling these “alcohol-related cues.”
It is important to note that this was an animal study and that further research is needed to determine if the same effect would occur in human participants.
As many as 90% of alcoholics will experience one relapse in the four years after they quit drinking, according to statistics from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Dangers of Non-Alcoholic Beer During Pregnancy
Because many non-alcoholic beers may contain some levels of alcohol, these products pose a risk if consumed during pregnancy. According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), pregnant individuals should avoid drinking any alcohol during pregnancy to avoid the risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder typically involves the consumption of higher levels of alcohol. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that there is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy.
Alcohol use during pregnancy is one of the leading causes of birth defects, which may include low body weight, facial abnormalities, physical problems, and neurobehavioral disorders.
Skip Non-Alcoholic Beer
While drinking non-alcoholic beer might be a safe option for people looking to reduce their alcohol intake, it is also essential to consider the potential risks. If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, you should avoid non-alcoholic beers since these products may still contain unsafe amounts of alcohol.
Consuming non-alcoholic beers may also pose risks to people recovering from alcohol use disorder. The smell of beer may serve as a relapse trigger.
The best advice for those trying to remain sober would be to avoid anything that smells like alcohol.
Alternatives to Non-Alcoholic Beer
If you are looking for an alternative to regular beer and non-alcoholic beer, there are several options you might want to consider. A few choices you might consider include:
- Soda with fresh lime juice
- Mocktails
- Kombucha
- Soda with fresh fruit
- Carbonated juices
Making Lifestyle Changes
If you are recovering from alcohol use disorder or are trying to cut back on your drinking, it can be helpful to make other lifestyle changes that help support sobriety and long-term recovery.
One way recovery experts recommend avoiding relapse and maintaining sobriety is to develop a drug-free lifestyle in which the person trying to stay sober substitutes healthy activities for behaviors from the past.
Strategies that can help include:
Social support is also essential. In many cases, you may need to find new social connections and spend less time with those who continue to drink.
Many people in recovery find that they need to make new nondrinking friends and not hang out with their old drinking buddies if they want to stay sober.
Sitting around drinking non-alcoholic beer with people in the same places you used to drink is maintaining your old lifestyle, not developing a new one.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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