What is Non-Alcoholic Beer?
Non-alcoholic beer is, as the term implies, beer with minimal or no alcohol. It’s meant to mimic the taste of actual beer but without the risk of becoming intoxicated.
Typically, non-alcoholic beer contains less than 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV), which is significantly lower than the 4-6% ABV found in most regular beers. The brewing process for non-alcoholic beer is similar to that of regular beer but includes an additional step to remove most of the alcohol, either by heating or filtering it out.
It’s easy to see why people might buy non-alcoholic beer. Beer is ingrained in cultures throughout the world so many people have developed a taste for it. Those who struggle with controlling their alcohol intake may drink non-alcoholic beer to enjoy the taste without the risk of relapse.
The World Health Organization states that over three million deaths worldwide are connected to alcohol. In the United States, over 95,000 Americans die from alcohol-related causes annually. Obviously, there are many health reasons people may choose to stop drinking alcohol.
Given the risks, non-alcoholic beer could be a good compromise for people who want to enjoy the taste of beer while also remaining conscious of their health.
Other reasons people may choose to stop drinking real beer include:
- Mental Clarity: Alcohol is known to impair cognitive function. By avoiding alcohol, individuals can maintain sharper focus, better memory, and overall mental clarity.
- Avoiding Dependency: Alcohol can be addictive, and some individuals choose to stop drinking to avoid the risk of developing a dependency or to break an existing addiction.
- Caloric Intake: Beer is calorie-dense, and drinking it regularly can contribute to weight gain. Non-alcoholic beer offers a lower-calorie alternative for those looking to manage their weight.
- Social and Religious Reasons: Some people avoid alcohol for religious or cultural reasons. Non-alcoholic beer allows them to enjoy the social aspects of beer drinking without compromising their beliefs.
- Pregnancy: Pregnant women often avoid alcohol to prevent potential harm to the fetus. Non-alcoholic beer provides an alternative for those who enjoy the taste of beer but want to ensure a healthy pregnancy.
Non-alcoholic beer is becoming increasingly popular as more people seek alternatives to traditional beer that align with their health, lifestyle, and personal goals.
Does Non-Alcoholic Beer Contain Alcohol?
Non-alcoholic beer typically contains a very small amount of alcohol, but it’s usually less than 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV). This is a minimal amount compared to regular beer, which generally has an ABV of 4-6% or higher. While non-alcoholic beer is often labeled as “alcohol-free,” it is not entirely devoid of alcohol.
For context:
- A beer with 0.5% ABV means that in a 12-ounce serving, there is approximately 0.06 ounces of alcohol.
- This amount is generally considered negligible and is unlikely to cause intoxication, even if several servings are consumed.
However, because it does contain a trace amount of alcohol, those who need or prefer to avoid alcohol completely, such as individuals in recovery from alcohol addiction, may choose to avoid non-alcoholic beer altogether. For these individuals, there are options labeled as “0.0% ABV” which truly contain no alcohol.
How Is Non-Alcoholic Beer Made?
There are two primary ways to make non-alcoholic beer:
- Make it Without Alcohol: In this approach, you closely control the brewing process, which consists of mashing and fermentation. Mashing means mixing hot water and grains to create sugar – or rather, various forms of sugars. In this case, it would involve simple sugars like glucose, sucrose, or fructose, because complex sugars like maltose, when introduced to yeast, ferment and create alcohol.
- Take the Alcohol Out Later: The other method to making non-alcoholic beer is to remove the alcohol. This can be done by heating the beer to evaporate the alcohol or filtering it out via reverse osmosis.
Beer can also be brewed normally and then diluted with water to remove the alcohol content. But this can affect the flavor so it’s less commonly used.
After alcohol removal, the beer may undergo additional flavor adjustments, carbonation, and packaging to ensure it maintains a taste and texture similar to regular beer.
Do You Have to Be 21 to Buy Non-Alcoholic Beer?
This will depend on the state. All states set the drinking age at 21. However, they all have different definitions of what an alcoholic beverage is.
As a result, some states will allow people under 21 to buy non-alcoholic beer and some won’t.
The states that permit people under 21 to buy non-alcoholic beer are:
- Alaska
- California
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Montana
- New Jersey
- Ohio (must be over 18)
- Rhode Island
- Texas
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
Here are the states where you cannot purchase non-alcoholic beer if you are under the drinking age:
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Oregon (for 0.5% and above)
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Utah
- West Virginia (for 0.5% and above)
- Wyoming (for 0.5% and above)
In some states, the laws are unclear.
These include:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Kentucky
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
In these states, retailers are likely to refuse sales to anyone under 21, just to avoid any potential legal trouble.
Can I Relapse Because of Non-Alcoholic Beer?
This is a reasonable question. After all, non-alcoholic beer both looks and tastes like beer. Some might find it a useful compromise – a way to “enjoy a beer” without getting intoxicated, but for others, it might just cause them to crave the real thing.
The taste of beer could trigger fond memories of past times drinking with one’s friends in college or after work. This could create a slippery slope. A person in this situation may become curious, ready to experiment with drinking alcohol again, telling themselves “it’s just one drink.”
It’s rarely just one drink.
One literature review in the journal Nutrients found that people with severe alcohol use disorder were more likely to crave alcohol after drinking non-alcoholic beer. So it seems non-alcoholic beer can indeed trigger a relapse.
Is Non-Alcoholic Beer Recommended for People in Recovery?
Non-alcoholic beer, while seeming a good option in theory, may not be a good idea, given the research. While it can provide some psychological comfort for people who miss the taste of beer, this is really the only real benefit it provides. While some argue there’s also the factor of social inclusion, everyone will know they aren’t drinking actual, alcoholic beer, so that isn’t really a good argument.
On the other hand, non-alcoholic beer carries a real risk of triggering cravings by triggering memories or drinking and reinforcing the association between drinking and good times. It can lead to a slippery slope that may eventually end in relapse. It may also send mixed messages – to oneself as well as others – about one’s commitment to leaving alcohol behind.
The Dangers of Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol use disorder has severe and broad impacts on physical and mental health, as well as legal and social implications.
Physical Effects of Alcohol Abuse
The physical effects of alcohol abuse, especially when sustained over time, can be severe:
- Liver Damage: Chronic alcohol abuse can lead to liver conditions such as fatty liver, hepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis, which can be life-threatening.
- Cardiovascular Problems: Heavy drinking increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle).
- Gastrointestinal Issues: Alcohol can cause inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis), pancreatitis, and increase the risk of ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding.
- Cancer: Alcohol abuse is linked to an increased risk of several types of cancer, including cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, colon, and breast.
- Weakened Immune System: Excessive alcohol consumption weakens the immune system, making the body more susceptible to infections and diseases.
- Neurological Damage: Alcohol abuse can cause brain damage, leading to memory loss, cognitive impairment, and conditions like Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.
Mental Effects of Alcohol Abuse
The mental effects of chronic alcohol abuse can be no less disastrous:
- Depression and Anxiety: Alcohol abuse is often associated with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. While alcohol may temporarily alleviate symptoms, it ultimately exacerbates these conditions.
- Alcohol Dependence and Addiction: Regular, heavy drinking can lead to physical dependence on alcohol and the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD), a chronic disease characterized by an inability to control drinking.
- Increased Risk of Suicide: Alcohol abuse is a significant risk factor for suicidal thoughts and behaviors, as it can impair judgment, increase impulsivity, and worsen depression.
Aside from these issues, there are also various social and legal consequences for drinking, including problems at work, in relationships, and with the law.
Alcohol Relapse Prevention Tips
Preventing relapse is a crucial part of maintaining sobriety for individuals recovering from alcohol addiction. Here are several tips to help prevent relapse:
- Know Your Triggers: Understand the situations, people, places, or emotions that trigger your urge to drink. Triggers could include stress, social gatherings, certain locations, or even specific times of day.
- Avoid High-Risk Situations: Whenever possible, avoid situations that may tempt you to drink. This might mean skipping events where alcohol is the focus or changing your routine to stay away from environments where you used to drink.
- Stay Connected: Maintain regular contact with supportive friends, family, or members of your recovery community. Isolation can increase the risk of relapse, so staying connected is vital.
- Join Support Groups: Consider attending Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings, or other support groups like SMART Recovery, where you can share experiences and gain encouragement from others who understand your journey.
Lifestyle Changes to Stop Drinking Alcohol
There are various ways to restructure your life to make it easier to quit alcohol and reduce the risk of relapse:
- Mindfulness Techniques: Practice mindfulness to stay present and aware of your thoughts and feelings without judgment. This can help you manage cravings and prevent impulsive decisions to drink.
- Meditation: Regular meditation can reduce stress and improve emotional regulation, making it easier to resist urges to drink.
- Exercise: Vigorous exercise can be an excellent way to stay away from drinking. A commitment to getting stronger in the gym, for example, can create an incentive to avoid alcohol. Exercise also releases endorphins which can help you feel better, making it less likely you’ll want to drink.
Find Help for Alcohol Addiction
If you or a loved one is battling with addiction and have concerns about how long addiction treatment takes, please call 866-881-1184 or contact us here. Our team would love to help you understand what to expect from addiction recovery, help check your insurance, or answer any other concerns you may have.
