Beer is healthier than you might think.

Beer has suffered from a poor image when it comes to health, but, in reality it offers a number of positive health benefits when drunk in moderation.

First, that ‘beer belly’! This has now been exposed as mainly myth, as nutritionists agree that it’s caused less by the beer itself than by the calorific snacks or takeaways that we often eat with a few drinks in the pub. In fact, beer contains fewer calories than wine, measure for measure. A typical 250ml serving of beer contains 102 calories, compared to 192 calories in the same size measure of wine. And beer contains no fat or cholesterol.

There’s also evidence that a sensible intake of beer can be good for you. Moderate beer drinkers have a substantially reduced risk of coronary heart disease, compared to teetotallers or heavy drinkers. They have a lower risk of developing gallstones or late onset diabetes. And beer is a source of dietary silicon, which protects against osteoporosis.

So, don’t shun beer for health reasons – but also be sure to drink it in moderation.

Drink	Calories per 100ml serving
Beer (4.6% ABV)	41
Still wine (*12% ABV)	77
Spirits (40% ABV)	250
Liqueurs (40% ABV)	320