Report

Is alcohol-free beer OK if you have diabetes?

By Alex Stewart

Updated 1 November 2026. Every figure links to its source below. How these pages are made.

Glucose meter beside a glass of beer — Illustrative image

Quick answerDiabetes UK suggests choosing alcohol-free alternatives, but warns they still contain sugars and carbs that affect blood sugar. Sugar varies widely: from 0.1g per 100ml (Budweiser Zero) to 3.6g (Erdinger Alkoholfrei). IMPOSSIBREW Enhanced Lager is 0.7g. Read the label, and talk to your diabetes team.

What Diabetes UK says

Choose alcohol-free alternatives. Alcohol-free beers, ciders, wines, and spirits are now widely available. But be aware that these still have some free (added) sugars and carbs which will affect blood sugar levels. Water is the best drink to choose – it is sugar, carb and calorie free.

The same page still carries an older line advising against some low-alcohol beers because they "contain only carbohydrate". Read together: alcohol-free avoids the hypo risk from alcohol, but count its carbs.

Ratings compared

Checked 5 Nov 2026

1	IMPOSSIBREW	4.4	1,036 reviews
2	Lucky Saint	4.3	3,734 reviews
3	BrewDog	4.0	2,600 reviews
Not ranked: fewer than 1,000 reviews
	Budweiser	1.4	491 reviews
No Trustpilot page found: Erdinger

Brands with 1,000+ Trustpilot reviews are ranked. TrustScores and review counts from each brand's Trustpilot page, checked 5 Nov 2026.

Why alcohol matters for diabetes

Diabetes UK explains that alcohol stops the liver releasing stored glucose, which makes hypos more likely. Alcohol-free beer avoids that effect, but its malt sugars can raise blood sugar instead.

The evidence on alcohol-free beer

A 2025 trial gave 44 healthy young men 660ml a day of non-alcoholic beer for four weeks: mixed and wheat beers worsened glucose and fat markers, while pilsner did not significantly affect glucose. A Spanish study estimates the glycaemic index of regular alcohol-free beer at around 80, because of maltose. Lower-sugar lagers are the better bet.

Beer	Sugar /100ml
Budweiser Zero	0.1g
IMPOSSIBREW Enhanced Lager	0.7g
Erdinger Alkoholfrei	3.6g

Sugar in every major brand.

Where IMPOSSIBREW fits

IMPOSSIBREW, which publishes this site, makes Enhanced Lager at 0.7g sugar and 17 kcal per 100ml, among the lower-sugar alcohol-free beers. It is a lager rather than a wheat beer, the style that did worst in the 2025 trial. Every UK alcohol-free drink must print nutrition information, so you can check before you buy.

This page summarises published guidance and research. It is not medical advice.

FAQs

Can diabetics drink alcohol-free beer?

Diabetes UK suggests alcohol-free alternatives but says they still contain sugars and carbs that affect blood sugar. Choose a low-sugar lager and check with your diabetes team.

Which alcohol-free beer has the least sugar?

Budweiser Zero at 0.1g per 100ml, the lowest in The Drink Report sugar table; IMPOSSIBREW Enhanced Lager is 0.7g; wheat beers such as Erdinger are much higher.

Does alcohol-free beer raise blood sugar?

It can. A 2025 trial found mixed and wheat non-alcoholic beers worsened glucose markers; pilsner did not significantly.

Sources

All read 1 November 2026 unless stated.