Is Non-Alcoholic Beer Safe? A Cautionary Tale

In recent years, there has been an increase in the production of non-alcohol beer. Even brand name beers such as Heineken, Corona, and Becks have non-alcohol formulations. Given the high levels of alcohol consumption in the United States and steep rise in the prevalence of alcohol use disorder we saw during and after the pandemic, it is tempting to think that this non-alcoholic beer trend is a positive development. In many respects, it probably is. As of 2022, “17.1 million men ages 18 and older (13.6% in this age group), and 11.7 million women ages 18 and older (8.9% in this age group) have some level of alcohol use disorder” (NSDUH, 2022).