Report

Does alcohol-free beer hydrate you?

By Alex Stewart

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

Runner resting on a park bench with a glass of beer — Illustrative image

Quick answerYes, it counts as fluid. The British Nutrition Foundation says nearly all drinks hydrate except alcoholic ones, and an Aberdeen study found drinks up to 2% alcohol rehydrate as well as alcohol-free ones after exercise. Water is still the NHS's first choice. Sodium matters more than the beer: low-alcohol beer with added electrolytes kept more fluid in.

What the guidance says

The British Nutrition Foundation: "We can get water from nearly all fluids that we drink, although alcoholic drinks don’t count towards your fluid intake". The NHS says water "is the best way to replace lost fluids" after sweating.

The exercise studies

There appears to be no difference in recovery from dehydration whether the rehydration beverage is alcohol free or contains up to 2% alcohol, but drinks containing 4% alcohol tend to delay the recovery process.

Study	Finding
Shirreffs and Maughan 1997	Up to 2% alcohol: no difference in rehydration; 4% slowed it
Desbrow 2013 and follow-up	Electrolyte content mattered more than small changes in alcohol
Castro-Sepulveda 2016 (7 footballers)	Non-alcoholic beer before exercise may help keep electrolytes balanced

Most of these studies are small. A widely quoted Munich Marathon trial (Scherr 2012) found less inflammation and fewer colds in runners drinking non-alcoholic beer; that is an immune finding, not a hydration one.

Where IMPOSSIBREW fits

IMPOSSIBREW, which publishes this site, makes Pro Grapefruit IPA, a 0.5% hazy IPA brewed with 500mg Social Blend plus electrolytes, for the end of a workout as well as a workday. It was sold out when this page was written. Its core Enhanced Lager is 17 kcal per 100ml.

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

FAQs

Does non-alcoholic beer count as water intake?

Yes. The British Nutrition Foundation says nearly all non-alcoholic drinks count towards fluid intake.

Is alcohol-free beer good after exercise?

It rehydrates about as well as other alcohol-free drinks, and versions with added electrolytes keep more fluid in. Water is the NHS first choice.

Does alcohol-free beer have electrolytes?

Ordinary beer has little sodium. Some, such as IMPOSSIBREW Pro Grapefruit IPA, add electrolytes.

Sources

All read 1 November 2026 unless stated.