Non-alcoholic beers are becoming more popular than ever, but can you drink non-alcoholic beer while pregnant? A non-alcoholic beer might be a tempting option during pregnancy, but the drinks can still contain up to 0.5% alcohol by volume, says Marra Francis, MD, a gynecologist practicing in San Antonio and the former chair of the OB-GYN department at Memorial Hermann Hospital.
Wondering if the trace amounts of alcohol in non-alcoholic beer can harm fetal development? Thanks to limited research, there's actually no evidence to suggest whether non-alcoholic beer is harmful or safe to drink during pregnancy. However, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) says that no amount of alcohol during pregnancy is considered safe since it's linked to behavioral and learning difficulties, birth defects, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), and other risks.
Some research suggests that light drinking during early pregnancy doesn't have negative effects. But there's a vague line between "light" drinking and "moderate" drinking, and there are simply no guidelines saying how much alcohol, if any, is OK. As a result, most experts stick by the rule that no amount of alcohol should be considered safe during pregnancy.
Here are all the facts on drinking non-alcoholic beer during pregnancy.
Does Non-Alcoholic Beer Have Alcohol?
The short answer is yes, non-alcoholic beer can have alcohol. That's because legally, "non-alcoholic" beer can contain up to 0.5% alcohol. Importantly, the FDA explains that it "does not consider the terms 'non-alcoholic' and 'alcohol-free' to be synonymous. The term 'alcohol-free' may be used only when the product contains no detectable alcohol."
While 0.5% alcohol by volume seems like an inconsequential amount, unfortunately, you can't always trust the label, because there is a chance that the drinks contain more alcohol than advertised.
For instance, a 2010 study studied 45 beverages claiming to have no or low alcohol content. Through gas chromatography, researchers found that 29% of the beverages "contained ethanol levels higher than the declared concentration on their label," according to the study. Six beverages marketed as having 0% alcohol actually had more than 1% ethanol—and some even had up to 1.8%.
So, Can I Drink Non-Alcoholic Beer During Pregnancy?
Only you and your health care provider can decide whether it's safe for you to drink non-alcoholic beer during pregnancy. When it comes to your baby's health, though, it's always better to be safe than sorry.
To be on the safe side, you may want to skip non-alcoholic beer during pregnancy and stick with alcohol-free mocktails or drinks labeled "alcohol-free" to eliminate the risks associated with alcohol consumption during pregnancy (By law, these products must contain no traceable alcohol, but triple-check the label to make sure it says 0.0% alcohol volume).
If you're looking forward to a drink after pregnancy, be assured that formula-feeding parents can safely indulge. The ACOG does note that occasionally having an alcoholic drink while breastfeeding or chestfeeding is safe as well, as long as you wait about two hours before feeding your baby to allow the alcohol time to leave your bloodstream.
And if a no-booze lifestyle even after pregnancy feels right for you, know you're in good company: More parents are choosing to go alcohol-free, so pass the sparkling water and call it a party!
