Are non-alcoholic beers, spirits and wines good for you?
Non-alcoholic versions of beer, spirits and even wine are all the rage, but apart from the lack of booze, are they healthier than their alcoholic equivalents? By Kate Jones In recent years, there’s been a surge in the popularity of non-alcoholic drinks. From spirits to wine, beer to cider, there’s more choice than ever before. And we’re not just picking them up from supermarket shelves, we’re buying more in pubs and restaurants too, with research showing that sales of no or low-alcohol drinks have increased every year from 2014-2021. While for many, the appeal of non-alcoholic drinks is simply due to craving the taste but not wanting to consume alcohol, a sizeable number of consumers are also driven to buy them because they view them as as healthier than their alcoholic counterparts. In fact, Mintel have carried out research which says that between 15% and 20% of consumers viewed added health benefits as an enticement to buy non-alcoholic or alcohol-free beverages. But do non-alcoholic drinks really come with health perks, aside from saving you from a sore head in the morning? What’s driven the popularity of non-alcoholic drinks? Dr Caomhán Logue, senior lecturer in dietetics at Ulster University, believes there’s been a culture change in terms of attitudes to having a night out without booze. “I suppose with more information available around alcohol consumption and the potential consequences of it, people have been more open to non-alcoholic versions and that has created a demand that industry seems to have been able to exploit,” he says. “There’s always been a need for a grown-up non-alcoholic drink for people who want to socialise,” adds dietitian and British Dietetic Association spokesperson, Dr Duane Mellor. “I think previously, part of the problem was they weren’t very good and now with some of the low-pressure extraction methods for alcohol, you [can] actually make a reasonably good beer or wine.” But do the beneficial health claims often made about alcohol-free drinks stand up? We put several myths to experts to find out. Are all non-alcoholic drinks completely alcohol free? “I would caution against assuming all drinks that are labelled in this way have no alcohol, because the recommendations by government do allow for some,” Logue notes. Drinkaware says that drinks labelled as ‘alcohol-free’ can contain a maximum of 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV), while ‘low-alcohol’ drinks can include up to 1.2% ABV. Are non-alcoholic drinks lower in calories? “Alcohol contains calories, so you’ll have less calories in a non-alcoholic beer versus an alcoholic one,” says Bridget Benelam, nutrition scientist, the British Nutrition Foundation. “Alcohol has seven calories per gram,” Mellor points out. However, Benelam adds it’s important to remember that non-alcoholic drinks are not calorie-free. “They still contain some calories and depending on the type of drink, they may also be sugary,” she explains. “They may still have a reasonable amount of sugar in them to make them sweet or syrupy,” Mellor adds. This fruity non-alcoholic sangria, will leave you refreshed on a hot day Are non-alcoholic drinks better for your liver? “Chronic excessive alcohol consumption over a long period of time can result in damage to the liver,” Logue notes. “If you remove alcohol from the equation, you’re not having that impact.” Yet, the dietitian draws attention to excessive consumption of free sugars — any sugars which are added to food or drinks, plus sugars in syrups, honey, nectars and unsweetened fruit juices, vegetable juices and smoothies. He explains that the potential exists to consume too much free sugar from alcohol-free alternatives to things like alcopops. “If they’re drunk in excess, then that can still result in damage to the liver, I would suggest,” he says. Are non-alcoholic drinks good for your general health? Logue says it’s possible to see how red wine with greatly-reduced alcohol content could have the potential of assisting in relation to health issues such as cardiovascular disease risk (in light of polyphenols). In addition, Benelam says that some non-alcoholic beers may contain B vitamins, while Mellor notes: “There is potential for some compounds, particularly in the beer-type products, to be of interest.” However, Benelam stresses that non-alcoholic drinks wouldn’t generally be considered a primary source of nutrients. “When you’re looking at nutrients and getting nutrients in your diet, it’s all about a healthy, balanced variety of foods,” she says. Mellor also highlights the risks of consuming too much fluid and sugar, plus the effect of acidic drinks on dental enamel. Making your own If the pre-prepared non-alcoholic drinks on the market don’t take your fancy, a good option is to make your own. “It’s really important you put the same care and attention into the visuals of your non-alcoholic [drink] as your alcoholic version,” stresses cocktail expert Pritesh Mody. Adding: “Beyond just using a non-alcoholic spirit, what you want are grown-up flavour profiles, so things like sourness and acidity.” The expert is a fan of coffee and tonic, coffee and ginger and flavoured teas. “Apple juice, lime juice and ginger beer is such a delicious drink,” he adds. Mody also highlights kombucha (which might have traces of alcohol due to the fermentation process) and virgin espresso martinis, as well as suggesting starting off with cider vinegar, apple juice and soda for a cider alternative. For further fruity options, you could opt for Shirley TempleVirgin mojitoNon-alcoholic frozen margaritaApple elderflower cooler Shirley Temple Virgin mojito Non-alcoholic frozen margarita Apple elderflower cooler Originally published July 2024