A recent study reveals that people who drink only beer tend to have poorer diets and health habits compared to those who drink wine, liquor, or a mix of different alcoholic drinks.
The study, led by Madeline Novack, chief resident at Tulane School of Medicine, was presented at The Liver Meeting, held by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, and published in Nutrients.
Alcohol misuse is one of the leading causes of liver disease, such as cirrhosis, in the U.S. Additionally, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is on the rise.
Both of these liver conditions are influenced by lifestyle choices, making it crucial to understand how alcohol use is linked to poor nutrition.
In this study, over 1,900 adults in the U.S. who reported drinking alcohol were surveyed.
Participants were grouped by their preferred drink: beer only (39%), wine only (22%), liquor only (18%), or a combination of alcohol types (21%).
Researchers then measured their diet quality using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI), which rates diets on a 100-point scale based on federal dietary guidelines.
A score of 80 is considered an adequate diet. While none of the groups reached the 80-point mark, beer-only drinkers scored the lowest at 49. Wine drinkers scored the highest at 55, while liquor-only and combination drinkers both scored around 53.
The study found that beer-only drinkers also had other habits associated with lower health quality.
They reported a higher calorie intake, were less physically active, and were more likely to smoke compared to wine drinkers.
Beer-only drinkers were more often younger, male, and with lower income.
Past research has shown that dietary quality declines with higher alcohol consumption of any kind, but this study highlights differences based on the type of alcohol preferred.
One reason for these findings may be the social settings and food choices often linked with each type of alcohol. In the U.S., beer is commonly consumed in places where food options are high in carbs, fried, or processed—such as pizza or burgers.
In contrast, wine, especially red wine, is often enjoyed with meals that include healthier options, like vegetables, lean meats, and dairy products. It’s also possible that the foods people choose could drive their drink choices; for example, salty foods may increase thirst, leading some to choose beer.
The study suggests that doctors should consider asking patients what type of alcohol they prefer, as it may help guide them toward healthier habits.
For beer-only drinkers, doctors might recommend adding more fruits and vegetables to their diet and increasing physical activity to help prevent liver disease and improve overall health.
If you care about health, please read studies that vitamin D can help reduce inflammation, and vitamin K could lower your heart disease risk by a third.
For more health information, please see recent studies about new way to halt excessive inflammation, and results showing foods that could cause inflammation.
