If you are in alcohol recovery, you might be wondering whether it is safe to drink non-alcoholic beer. While you might think that it is a safe choice, it is not advises
for you or anyone who’s cutting off alcohol to drink these alcohol-free or “near beer” beverages.
You should still be careful because many of these non-alcoholic beers still contain 0.05% to 0.5% alcohol. Besides having small traces of alcohol, medical professionals don’t advise these “near beer” drinks, because of their more detrimental effects for someone completing his alcohol rehab treatment.
Let’s find more about it.
How are these Non-Alcohol Beers Produced?
There are two methods of producing low-alcohol beers:
- They can bring your beer to a boil to evaporate some of its alcohol.
- They will let the beer pass through a filter, which can remove the alcohol.
Are Low-Alcohol Beers Less Fattening than Regular Beers?
In truth, these “near beers” have lower calories than their regular counterparts, that’s why they’re also called “light” beers. However, if you’re aiming to get a buzz by drinking these non-alcoholic beers, then you’ll surely put on huge calories in your belly.
What are some Known Non-Alcoholic Beers in the Market?
If you’re not under an alcohol rehab program or suffering from alcohol use disorder, then drinking “near beer” is just fine. However, be sure to always have control over your drinking patterns, to avoid binge drinking on weekends.
Conversely, here are some of the popular brands of low-alcohol beers in the US:
BrewDog: It contains 0.5% ABV and is usually marketed to people who like IPA.- Heineken: It has 0.0% ABV and was launched in the market in 2019.
- Clausthaler: It has 0.0% ABV but it has cascade hops giving it a citrus flavor.
- Mikkeller: It’s a Danish beer with 0.0% ABV. It has a distinguishing taste because of the notes of apricot, peach, and grapefruit.
- Bitburger Drive: It’s a German Pilsner with 0.0% ABV.
- Brooklyn Brewery: It has a balanced taste of sweetness and bitterness. You’ll feel a toasty bread note after drinking it.
- Run Wild from Athletic Brewing Co.: It has an IPA-like flavor and aroma.
- Beck: It’s a non-alcoholic German pilsner with a light color and taste.
- Ginger Beer: It doesn’t have gluten, hops, and alcohol.
Can Minors Drink Non-Alcoholic Beers?
If a beer has an alcohol content of less than 0.5% ABV, then it’s considered “non-alcoholic (NA)”. Additionally, these low-alcohol drinks are legally allowed to be sold to individuals aged 21 years and younger.
Nevertheless, it’s still highly suggested that you don’t allow your children (ages 15 to 21 years) to have these drinks since it could be the start of their drinking problems.
Are Non-Alcoholic Beers Dangerous to Your Liver?
If you’re just having one or three bottles of these “near beer” drinks, then your liver may be able to metabolize it. However, drinking in excess is not advisable.
What’s the Difference Between Beers and Non-Alcoholic Beers?
Basically, the main difference lies in their alcohol by volume (ABV) content, where a regular beer has 5% ABV, while non-alcoholic beers have 0.05% ABV. There’s a huge gap between their alcohol contents, so drinking the latter won’t give you a buzz even when you finish 100 bottles.
What are the various types of Alcohol Labelling for Beers?
There are four types of alcohol labeling for beers, and it’ll tell you the amount of alcohol present in it.
- Regular beer: 1.2% ABV or higher
- Low-alcohol beer: 1.2% ABV or lower
- De-alcoholised beer: 0.5% ABV or lower
- Non-alcoholic beer: 0.05% ABV or lower
For you to reach 5% ABV from a regular beer, you’d have to drink 100 bottles of non-alcoholic beers or 10 bottles of low-alcohol beers. Based on that, you’d never reach 100 bottles since you’ll be full after finishing 10 to 15 bottles already.
What’s the Danger of Non-Alcoholic Beers for Those Undergoing Alcohol Rehab Treatment?
Indeed, you don’t get drunk from having “near beer” drinks, however, it can trigger your past cravings from alcohol. When that happens, you will eventually have a relapse and you’ll go back to your unhealthy drinking habits.
This is the main reason why doctors and addiction specialists emphasized that drinking non-alcoholic beers is a definite “No” for those recovering from alcoholism.
It Has the Smell and Taste of Beer
Besides containing minute traces of alcohol, these non-alcoholic beverages still have the scent and taste of a regular beer. For those recovering alcoholics, experiencing the smell and taste of beer is a strong activator of their previous euphoric sensations from excessive drinking.
Taking that into account, it’s best that you avoid drinking these beverages and just have water or soft drinks to avoid relapse.
It Brings Back Your Unhealthy Behavior
When you come into contact with something you’re addicted to before, it reminds you of your past attitude and behavior. If you’re currently undergoing an alcohol rehab treatment, one of their goals is to mold back your healthy and positive behavior.
Unfortunately, if you’ll be having non-alcoholic beers, it can disrupt the development of your positive personality and mind since it brings back your horrible past habits.
Do You Need Help with Your Drinking Problems?
If you’re currently suffering from alcohol use disorder, then you’re having a bottle of non-alcoholic beer, then that means you’re not serious about recovering. Why is that so?
Well, that’s because there’s a huge risk for you to get a relapse by having one or two drinks of these low-alcohol beers. Therefore, your best solution to achieving sobriety is to talk to a doctor or addiction specialist.
They will give you sound and personalized advice to recover from your alcoholism. Additionally, you can also enroll in an alcohol rehab center near you so that you get the best treatment recovery plan.
