At first glance, it’s like a nonsensical question. Does non-alcoholic beer have any alcohol? Surely, the answer is already there in the question: non-alcoholic beer.
But it’s not quite that simple.
Despite its name, non-alcoholic beer – sometimes known as alcohol-free beer (just to confuse matters further) – can contain some alcohol. Whichever method was used to brew it, it is very rare that every single trace of alcohol is removed.
And, indeed, across the globe, national legislation in various countries allows for a certain level of alcohol to be present in NA beverages while still permitting them to be labelled as such (more on that in a second).
Typically, when we talk about non-alcoholic beer we’re referring to a beverage with 0.5% alcohol by volume. That’s the average and the level permitted in many countries.
However, that’s not the definition used to market non-alcoholic beer in all countries. There are some variations in what can be marketed as non-alcoholic beer.
Minor variations
The definition of non-alcoholic beer varies from country to country, and the allowable alcohol content can vary as well. Here are a few examples from around the world:
In the United States, any beverage that contains 0.5% or less alcohol by volume (ABV) can be labelled as non-alcoholic.
In Canada, non-alcoholic beer must contain 0.5% or less ABV to qualify.
United Kingdom law states that non-alcoholic beer must contain no more than 0.05% ABV.
In Germany, non-alcoholic beer is referred to as “alkoholfrei” and must have an alcohol content of 0.5% or less by weight (ABW), which is equivalent to around 0.05% ABV. But there is also a category of beer called “alcohol-reduced” beer, which can contain up to 0.5% ABV.
In Russia, non-alcoholic beer is defined as containing no more than 0.5% ABV, but there is also a category of beer called “low-alcohol” beer, which can contain up to 1.2% ABV.
In Sweden, non-alcoholic beer is defined as containing no more than 0.5% ABV, but the Swedes also have a category of beer called “folköl” or “people’s beer,” which can contain up to 3.5% ABV.
Over in Japan, non-alcoholic beer is defined as containing no more than 0.5% ABV, but here also there is another category of slightly more alcoholic beer called “happoshu,” which allows beer brands to contain up to 1% ABV.
In South Korea, non-alcoholic beer is defined as containing no more than 1% ABV.
New Zealand allows non-alcoholic beer to contain up to 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV) and still be considered non-alcoholic.
In Australia, non-alcoholic beer is defined as containing no more than 0.5% ABV, but there is also a category of beer called “light beer,” which can contain up to 3.5% ABV.
Stay up to date
It’s important to note that the definition of non-alcoholic beer can change over time. And some countries may have different regulations for beer versus other types of alcoholic beverages.
Additionally, some brands of non-alcoholic beer may contain higher or lower levels of alcohol than the legal definition for their country. Indeed, you will find some NA beers that have zero alcohol. 0.0%. Nada. Zip.
So, it’s always a good idea to check the label and do your research if you’re concerned about the alcohol content of a specific non-alcoholic beer. That’s just common sense.
Can non-alcoholic beer get you drunk?
In theory, yes. In practice, no. For most people, sure, drink enough non-alcoholic beer and you might get ever so slightly tipsy. But your body is just not designed to contain the amount of liquid it would actually take to feel any effects.
Therefore, while NA beer may contain trace amounts of alcohol, it is generally considered safe for individuals who want to avoid alcohol or reduce their intake.
It might only be a problem for people who are highly sensitive to alcohol. And that is less likely to concern drunkenness as much as things like allergic reactions to the alcohol.
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Drink non-alcoholic beer in different countries and you might be imbibing different levels of alcohol. But for all intents and purposes, the variations will not make any difference to your level of drunkenness – which will be none. Unless you have a superhuman capacity for holding in liquid.
Image credit: monica-di-loxley