A new study has found that people who mainly drink beer tend to have less healthy diets and lifestyles than those who prefer wine, liquor, or a mix of drinks. The research, led by Dr. Madeline Novack from Tulane School of Medicine, was presented at The Liver Meeting by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and published in the journal Nutrients.
Alcohol misuse is a major cause of liver diseases like cirrhosis in the U.S. Another liver problem, called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is also becoming more common.
Both of these conditions are closely linked to unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as poor diet and lack of exercise. That’s why it’s important to understand how different drinking habits might relate to nutrition and health.
In the study, more than 1,900 American adults who drink alcohol were surveyed. They were grouped by their favorite type of alcohol: beer only (39%), wine only (22%), liquor only (18%), or a mix of types (21%).
The researchers looked at the participants’ diets using a tool called the Healthy Eating Index (HEI), which scores diets from 0 to 100 based on how closely they follow U.S. dietary guidelines. A score of 80 or above is considered a healthy diet.
None of the groups reached the ideal score, but beer-only drinkers had the lowest average score of 49. Wine drinkers scored the highest at 55, while liquor-only and mixed drinkers averaged around 53.
The study also found that beer-only drinkers tended to have other unhealthy habits. They ate more calories, were less likely to exercise, and were more likely to smoke compared to people who mainly drank wine. Beer drinkers were also more likely to be younger men with lower incomes.
Previous studies have shown that drinking too much alcohol in general is linked to worse diets. But this study is one of the first to show that what you drink might also matter.
One possible reason for the difference is that beer is often enjoyed in settings where unhealthy food is served, like fast food restaurants, sports events, or parties with chips, burgers, and fried snacks. In contrast, wine—especially red wine—is more often paired with meals that include vegetables, lean meat, and dairy, which are usually healthier.
It’s also possible that the kinds of foods people eat influence the drinks they choose. For example, salty foods can make people feel thirsty, which might lead them to choose beer more often.
The researchers suggest that doctors should ask patients not just how much they drink, but what they drink. This information could help guide better advice on healthy eating and habits. For those who mostly drink beer, doctors might recommend eating more fruits and vegetables, cutting back on processed foods, and being more active.
While more research is needed, this study shows that a person’s choice of drink can be a useful clue to their overall health—and a good place to start when talking about how to live a healthier life.
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