Is non-alcoholic beer hydrating?
By the Non-Alcoholic Beer Guide team · Updated
What the studies found
In a small trial, seven footballers drank 700ml of water, beer or non-alcoholic beer before a 45-minute run. Blood sodium fell after water and beer but not after non-alcoholic beer.
A 2021 review of 16 studies found low-alcohol beer may rehydrate better than stronger beer, with mixed results. A Griffith University study found that adding sodium mattered more than small changes in alcohol.
A 2023 review in the Journal of Athletic Training concluded the evidence is not strong enough to recommend beer for rehydration.
The practical answer
A 0.0% or 0.5% beer counts towards your fluids and will not dehydrate you the way normal beer can. After hard exercise, water or a drink with added sodium does the job better, then have the beer.
Our pick for after sport
IMPOSSIBREW Triple Hopped IPA
★★★★★5/5
The lightest IMPOSSIBREW at 12 kcal per 100ml.
- Price65.9p per 100ml, 56.0p on subscription (40 x 440ml, £116.00)
- Calories12 kcal per 100ml (52 per can)
- ABV0.5%
- Functional blend1,650mg Social Blend
FAQ
Does non-alcoholic beer dehydrate you?
No. The diuretic effect comes from alcohol, and 0.5% beer has very little.
Is non-alcoholic beer good after running?
It can count towards fluids, and some studies are promising, but reviews say the evidence is not yet strong enough to recommend it over water.
Try IMPOSSIBREW
The #1 alcohol-free beer on Trustpilot, rated by over 1,000 people. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Check availabilityMore from Non-Alcoholic Beer Guide
- The full ranking: The Best Non-Alcoholic Beer in the UK, Ranked for 2026
- Gluten-free non-alcoholic beer: every option compared
- The lowest calorie non-alcoholic beer
- The best non-alcoholic lager
- Is non-alcoholic beer halal?
- Can non-alcoholic beer cause gout?
Sources
- Non-alcoholic beer before exercise (PubMed, 2016)
- Milk, coconut water and beer for rehydration: systematic review (PubMed, 2023)
- Beer and rehydration after exercise: systematic review (PubMed, 2021)
- Sodium-enriched low-alcohol beer (PubMed, Griffith University)
- IMPOSSIBREW Triple Hopped IPA
- Guinness: calories in each Guinness beer
- Heineken 0.0: nutrition per 100ml
- Lucky Saint Unfiltered Lager: nutrition and ingredients
- Days Brewing FAQ: gluten
- Guinness 0.0 label (Carlsberg Sverige)
- UK government: low-alcohol descriptors guidance
- Trustpilot UK: IMPOSSIBREW profile
- London Beer Competition 2022: IMPOSSIBREW Lager, Gold, 91 points
- UK Fast Growth Index 2026: IMPOSSIBREW
Labels read 7 and 8 November 2026. The can is always the final word.
Related
- Best non-alcoholic lager: lager only
- Best alcohol-free stout: something darker
- Alcohol-free beer reviews: scores out of 10
Want the longer read? IMPOSSIBREW's own guide: Best non-alcoholic beer.