Beer is amazing. It’s refreshing, relaxing and the alcohol buzz gets you in the mood for social shenanigans. So, uh… why do people drink NON alcoholic beer? What’s the point of non alcoholic beer?
With the ever-growing popularity of alcohol-free beer, many people have begun to wonder, why do people drink non alcoholic beer to begin with. If you enjoy beer for its effects, maybe you think non alcoholic beer misses the point entirely.
It may surprise you to know that getting drunk is not the only reason people enjoy beer. In this short read, we share some viewpoints from non-drinkers on why non-alcoholic beer is also worth sipping.
Why Do People Drink Non Alcoholic Beer?
Reason 1: Health & Fitness
If you’re wondering why do people drink non alcoholic beer, the first place to look is health. One of the biggest factors in the nonalcoholic beer boom is the concept of health, fitness, and wellness. The health benefits of choosing to drink non alcoholic beer instead of regular beer include:
Lower Calorie Option
To put it bluntly, alcohol in beer makes you fat. Unlike traditional beer, nonalcoholic beer has significantly fewer calories, as we explain in our popular FAQ do non alcoholic beers make you fat? Alcohol free beers provide people with a guilt-free alternative, that allows them to hang out with their friends on a Friday night without having to worry about hitting the gym the following morning.
Nutritional Benefits
But of course, drinking non-alcoholic beer is not just about a reduction in caloric intake. The beer itself is chock-full of essential nutrients such as the B vitamins, and a number of important minerals that the body needs to stay hydrated.
Hydration and Post-Workout
Believe it or not, non-alcoholic beer is an excellent option for drinking after a long, hard workout, as this Men’s Health article explains. Unlike an alcoholic beer which contributes to dehydration, non-alcoholic beer does not dehydrate you, rather it promotes hydration through the replenishment of essential electrolytes and water.
More on this in our FAQ do non alcoholic beers dehydrate you?
Avoiding Alcohol’s Negative Impacts
Others choose to drink non-alcoholic beer, simply to avoid the negative impacts associated with alcoholic beverages. That is, they want the experience, the taste, and the social acceptance of drinking beer, without having to deal with the intoxicating effects of excessive alcohol consumption. Maybe they don’t actually like the feeling of being drunk. Or they’ve noticed a pattern between their alcohol-drinking and aggressive or depressive behavior, and have decided to no longer get drunk for that reason.
Reason 2: Designated Drivers and Social Situations
Non-alcoholic beers are perfect for designated drivers, and for preventing awkward social situations.
Designated Drivers
One of the biggest side effects of hanging out with friends on a Friday night is getting too drunk to drive yourself home. In the old days, someone would always end up becoming the designated driver and have to abstain from alcohol the entire night. But non-alcoholic beers allow them to drink socially, and still drive the rest of the party home at the end of the night.
Inclusive Social Gatherings
Not everyone actually likes to drink alcohol. In fact, there is a large percentage of the population that does not drink alcohol at all. Those who do not generally drink can feel awkward in social situations because they seem to be the only ones who are not getting drunk. Non-alcoholic beers allow people to socialize freely without feeling pressured to get intoxicated, and without feeling judged by others for choosing not to. Non alcoholic beers that are labelled like regular beers allows people to pretend they are drinking alcohol and relax in social situations where heavy drinking is the norm such as parties.
Avoiding Drunk Driving
Of course, the biggest side effect of drinking a non-alcoholic beer is that it ensures road safety. Since it is practically impossible to get drunk off of a nonalcoholic beer, and is generally considered to be safe to consume nonalcoholic beer, and drive home afterward.
Reason 3: Taste and Flavor Preferences
Some people love the taste and flavor of beer but just don’t want to deal with the negative side effects of consuming an alcoholic beverage.
Replicating Beer Flavors
The first generation of nonalcoholic beers was considered by most to be watered-down versions of regular beer. However, technology has changed a lot in recent years and has allowed brewers to deliver the taste and flavor of a traditional beer without any form of alcoholic content. Many brewers are able to closely replicate the flavor, aroma, and presentation of a traditional alcoholic beer.
Diverse Non-alcoholic Styles
Thanks to the increased popularity of non-alcoholic beers, there is now a diverse array of options available on the market today. You can purchase non-alcoholic lagers, stouts, and even IPAs.
Avoiding Hangovers
Of course, when you drink non-alcoholic beers with your friends all night long, you will never have to deal with one of those nasty hangovers.
Reason 4: Cultural and Religious Reasons
Others choose to drink non-alcoholic beers, because of either cultural or religious reasons.
Adherence to Cultural Beliefs
In certain cultures, the consumption of an alcoholic beverage is strictly prohibited or at least discouraged. Those who adhere to these cultural or religious beliefs are able to join their friends socially, without having to compromise what they believe in.
Bad Experiences
It’s not uncommon for children who grew up in a home with an abusive alcoholic parent, to simply choose not to consume alcohol at all. Just like adhering to cultural or religious beliefs, young adults who had bad experiences in their childhood, are able to consume a nonalcoholic beer without all of the intoxicating side effects.
Reason 5: Alternative Beverage Option
Nonalcoholic beers are also an excellent alternative for those who are trying to reduce sugar and calories, or just live a healthier and active lifestyle.
Reducing Sugar Intake
Because non-alcoholic beers have low to no alcohol content at all, they also have a much lower level of sugar than traditional juices and soft drinks. For those with diabetes, some doctors may even approve of the consumption of non-alcoholic beer from time to time, as this Diabetes UK article explains.
Reducing Empty Calories
Most soft drinks and quick-mart juices are filled with empty calories. Non-alcoholic beer, on the other hand, can be consumed guilt-free due to its extremely low level of calories.
A Beer for Everyone
Non-alcoholic beer is perfect for everyone. It is an excellent choice for a wide array of different social situations where people may feel awkward being asked to take a drink. By offering non-alcoholic beer, you can prevent these awkward social situations during your next friendly get-together.
Final Answer: Why Do People Drink Non Alcoholic Beer?
Why Do People Drink Non Alcoholic Beer?
There is no single reason that people drink non alcoholic beer, however, it generally comes down to wanting to avoid alcohol. To the surprise of some people, the point of drinking beer is not just to get drunk. Some people enjoy the taste or other benefits of beer, without feeling intoxicated.
Why do people drink non alcoholic beer?
- Health & fitness. Alcohol is fattening, so some people choose to avoid it for diet reasons.
- Hydration & post-workout. Alcohol in regular beer is dehydrating, but non alcoholic beer does the opposite, as it provides the body with water and electrolytes to help with hydration.
- Avoiding intoxication. Some people simply don’t like the feeling of being drunk, but still enjoy the taste and refreshment of a cold beer.
- Designated drivers. Non alcoholic beers allow designated drivers to feel included at parties, rather than feeling left out or judged for not drinking.
- Feeling included. All non drinkers have at some time felt judged for not drinking at a party. Alcohol free beer allows them to feel included in the party, by appearing to drink alcohol like everyone else.
- Religious reasons. Some religious beliefs do not allow consumption of alcohol.
- Healthier than most other non alcoholic alternatives. Unless you are drinking water, the majority of non alcoholic cold beverages are packed with sugar. Non alcoholic beer is a healthier alternative to sugary sodas and juices.
For me, the main reason I choose to drink non alcoholic beer is because there aren’t many bottled non-alcoholic beverage options. Soda pop and juice are childish and contain way more sugar than I feel comfortable putting in my body, and mineral water gets boring quickly. Don’t even mention energy drinks, yuk.
So that leaves very few bottled non-alc options, aside from Kombucha (which I also love). Non alcoholic beer is a refreshing option, that offers more flavor complexity than any of the aforementioned non-alcohol drinks, plus it’s low in calories.
If you’re asking why do people drink non alcoholic beer, then maybe you need to ask yourself why it matters to you, anyway. The most important thing is to not judge others for their drinking habits. If someone chooses not to drink alcohol, don’t judge or think less of them, as you don’t understand their reason for avoiding alcohol and honestly it’s none of your business. Likewise, if someone enjoys an alcoholic beer but you don’t, then you have no right to judge them either.
Let everyone be free to enjoy life however they want, whether it is with alcohol or not. Non alcoholic beer has a place, and we should be celebrating that technology exists to make alcohol-free brews at all. And on that note, to learn how to brew non alcoholic beer at home, check out our Non Alcoholic Brewing section.
Cheers!
