Can non-alcoholic beer cause gout?

By the Non-Alcoholic Beer Guide team · Updated 8 November 2026

Quick answerIt can still contain purines, which the body turns into uric acid, the cause of gout. The little research there is suggests alcohol-free beer is not risk-free for people with gout, and purine levels vary by recipe. Diet is only part of the picture, so anyone with gout should ask their GP.

Why beer matters for gout

The NHS says gout comes from too much uric acid in the blood, and lists alcohol as a risk. The UK Gout Society says purines break down into uric acid and lists beer among the foods to limit. It also says most uric acid is made by the body, so diet changes alone rarely fix gout.

What the studies found

A 1995 Aberdeen study measured purines in standard, low-alcohol and alcohol-free beers and concluded that drinks containing purines seemed unsuitable for gout sufferers, though it called its results hard to interpret. A Japanese study found that cutting a beer's purines by 28% made almost no difference to the rise in uric acid it caused.

Nobody has yet measured uric acid in people drinking 0.0% beer specifically.

What to do

If you have gout, treat alcohol-free beer as an occasional drink rather than a free pass, and ask your GP, especially if you take urate-lowering medicine.

FAQ

Is alcohol-free beer better than normal beer for gout?

It removes the alcohol, which the NHS lists as a gout risk, but it can still contain purines.

Which beer has the fewest purines?

Brands do not publish purine content, so there is no reliable ranking.

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Sources

Labels read 7 and 8 November 2026. The can is always the final word.

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Want the longer read? IMPOSSIBREW's own guide: Best non-alcoholic beer.