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Justin Alexander
Beer and Its Effects on Health
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the
standard size of an alcoholic drink, specifically beer with a percent alcohol by volume (%ABV) of
5%, is 12 fluid ounces. A majority of the beers in the craft beer market hover around 5-7% ABV,
and the NIAAA states that a beverage of 7% has a standard “drink” volume of 8-9 fluid ounces.
It is clarified by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that there are different
types of drinking habits when it concerns alcohol; moderate, heavy, and binge drinking.
Moderate drinking is defined as having 1 alcoholic drink per day for women, and 2 alcoholic
drinks per day for men. Heavy drinking is defined as having 8 drinks or more in a week for
women, and 15 drinks or more in a week for men. Binge drinking is defined as having 4 drinks
or more in a single occasion for women, and 5 drinks or more in a single occasion for men,
usually within a 2-hour timeframe. The NIAAA also has a category of drinking that they refer to
as “low risk”. Low risk drinking is defined as having no more than 3 drinks in a day or 7 in a
week for women, and no more than 4 in a day or 14 in a week for men.
Alcohol consumption has many different effects on the health of the consumer, many of
which are debated and researched frequently. According to the CDC, excessive alcohol
consumption can lead to chronic diseases such as cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatitis, various
types of cancer, high blood pressure, physiological disorders, can increase the likelihood of
unintentional injuries, violent behavior, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, and sudden infant
death syndrome (SIDS). The research done on the link between excessive alcohol consumption
and the side effects listed above is extensive and beyond the scope of this paper.

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Although alcohol consumption is associated with negative side effects, it does however
have the ability to impart positive health effects on the consumer. According to Anthony
Martin, moderate beer consumption can lead to a reduced likelihood of kidney stones, regular
bowel movements, lower LDL cholesterol, increased vitamin B (B1, B2, B6, and B12) levels,
higher bone density, sleep promotion, reduced risk of heart attack, blood clot prevention,
decreased likelihood of suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease (AD), reduced stress
levels, healthier looking skin, and even fight off the common cold. It has been concluded that
beer consumption does in fact reduce the risk of kidney stones, and that it also increases the
amount of soluble fiber one digests (Hirvonen et al. 1999). Increased soluble fiber intake can
lead to regular bowel movements, reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, and lowered LDL
cholesterol levels (Bazzano 2008). According to Mayer et al., moderate beer consumption does
lead to higher levels of B vitamins, but when consumed in excess, B vitamins are decreased to
unfavorable levels. Jacob Schor also conducted a study in which bone density was observed in
beer drinkers and non-beer drinkers, and the study concluded that bone density was more
favorable in beer drinkers than in non-beer drinkers. Suzanne Tyas researched the effects of
alcohol abuse on the brain with relation to dementia and AD, and she concluded that alcohol
abuse does in fact lead to chronic and deleterious effects on the brain, effects that can be
associated with dementia and AD, but the study clearly states that moderate alcohol use poses
no such connections with dementia and AD. Although Martin claims that moderate beer
consumption “can regenerate the skin and have a positive impact on pigmentation. Your skin
becomes smoother and suppler,” there is a lack of scientific evidence available to support that
claim. He also states that “When barley is warmed up it improves blood circulation and helps

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you breathe when you feel congested. It also provides relief for joint pain and boosts your
immunity.” It is well known that alcohol consumption dehydrates the consumer and weakens
their immune system. Regardless of whether or not barley is beneficial for fighting a cold,
alcohol consumption while sick should be minimal to none, when possible.
Beer consumption, and alcohol consumption in general, should always be done with
great care. Excessive alcohol use has been observed and shown to lead to chronic disorders
involving memory loss, heart problems, blood pressure, and liver disease, an increase in self-
harming activities, and even complications with fetuses or breastfeeding children. Despite
potential downsides of alcohol consumption, moderate consumption remains a viable way to
increase the overall health of the consumer. Moderate consumption has a wide variety of
beneficial side effects, so as long as the consumer is capable of limiting and controlling their
alcohol intake, they should be able to improve their overall health. Moderation is the key that
can lead an individual towards improved health when it concerns alcohol intake.

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References
Bazzano, L. (2008, December 1). Effects of soluble dietary fiber on low-density lipoprotein
cholesterol and coronary heart disease risk. Retrieved December 7, 2015, from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18937894
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (n.d.). Alcohol and Public Health. Retrieved
December 6, 2015, from http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm
Hirvonen, T., et al. (1999). Nutrient Intake and Use of Beverages and the Risk of Kidney Stones
among Male Smokers. Retrieved December 6, 2015, from
http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/150/2/187.short#cited-by
Martin, A. (2014, February 4). The health benefits of beer: 12 reasons why you should drink it!
Retrieved December 5, 2015, from http://anthonymartin.be/en/news-events/news/79-
the-health-benefits-of-beer-12-reasons-why-you-should-drink-it/#
Mayer, O., et al. (2001, July 1). A population study of the influence of beer consumption on
folate and homocysteine concentrations. Retrieved December 7, 2015, from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11464234
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). (n.d.). What's a "standard" drink?
Retrieved December 6, 2015, from http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/How-much-
is-too-much/What-counts-as-a-drink/Whats-A-Standard-Drink.aspx
Schor, J. (2009). Beer Drinking and Bone Density. Retrieved December 7, 2015, from
http://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/journal/2010-04/beer-drinking-and-bone-
density

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Tyas, S. (n.d.). Alcohol Use and the Risk of Developing Alzheimer's Disease. Retrieved December
7, 2015, from http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh25-4/299-306.htm
U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary
Guidelines for Americans, 2010. 7th Edition, Washington, DC: US Government Printing
Office; 2010.