Breastfeeding and Nonalcoholic Beer

There was once a point in human history where beer was recommended for nursing mothers. Research shows that, in the early 1900s, beer companies marketed low-alcohol beers or “tonics” to women as a way of increasing milk production, among other things.

These purported benefits have since been debunked, and while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that one standard drink per day isn’t known to be harmful for breastfed infants, it also advises that the safest bet is to abstain from drinking alcohol while nursing.

Thankfully, giving up alcohol doesn’t necessarily mean giving up beer entirely. Nonalcoholic beer is generally considered safe for people who are breastfeeding — with some considerations to keep in mind. Read on to learn more.

Definition of Nonalcoholic Beer

Beer is defined by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau as having at least one-half of 1 percent (.05 percent) or more by volume of alcohol. This means that any beer sold below this threshold is considered nonalcoholic.

It also means that some nonalcoholic beer contains extremely low levels of alcohol. If you’re looking to switch to nonalcoholic beer during breastfeeding and trying to avoid alcohol completely, make sure to check the label — alcohol-free beer is usually marked as being “0.0 percent” alcohol, whereas other nonalcoholic beers will list .05 percent.

Is Nonalcoholic Beer Safe During Breastfeeding?

The short answer is: Yes, research suggests that nonalcoholic beer is okay to drink while nursing. In fact, moderate consumption of 0.0 percent beer may even increase antioxidant capacity in breast milk while lowering oxidative stress for the breastfeeding parent. That said, the existing research notes that more study on this subject is needed, and some professionals still encourage delaying breastfeeding after drinking nonalcoholic beer — similar to how the CDC suggests waiting at least two hours before nursing after having one standard alcoholic drink.

Additionally, research shows that while nonalcoholic beers may help cut down on alcohol use in some people who drink, there is potential for cue reactivity among those with high-risk alcohol use. This means that people who are living with alcohol use disorder could potentially be triggered to consume real alcohol just based on the look or taste of a nonalcoholic beer.

It’s also possible that even beer marketed as being 0.0 percent alcohol contains more than it claims to. Research shows that some nonalcoholic beers have tested as being higher than 1 percent alcohol. This means that they don’t actually meet the threshold for what can legally be sold as “nonalcoholic.”