Low-carb beer not a healthier option
DRINKERS are being duped into believing lowcarbohydrate beers are healthy, and need protection from questionable marketing, the Cancer Council claims.
Despite advertising it’s better for you, an analysis of socalled low-carb beer shows it is no better at preventing a beer gut than a normal brew.
Research by Cancer Council Victoria’s LiveLighter campaign also shows the marketing is working, with more than a third of male and almost a quarter of female drinkers believing low-carb beer is healthier.
Because the carbohydrate content of beer is already low – accounting for only 1-3 per cent of the total kilojoules in most beers – cutting its content has a negligible effect on the healthiness of the drink, LiveLighter campaign manager Alison McAleese said.
Instead, it is the actual alcohol content of a beer that accounts for more than 80 per cent of its kilojoules.
Ms McAleese said the only real way to cut beer’s effect on waistlines was to drink loweralcohol brews.
“Carbohydrates really make a very tiny difference – the best thing you can do is pick a lowalcohol or light beer,” she said.
“The marketing around certain beers definitely contributes to the misconception.”
Information provided by manufacturers to the Cancer Council shows most beers marketed as being low-carb have 0.3g to 1g of carbohydrates per 100ml, while standard beers of similar alcohol strength contain 2g to 3.2g of carbohydrates per 100ml. But with alcohol contributing 100-145kj per 100ml in all beers, the carbohydrates are a drop in the amber ocean.
A survey of more than 1000 drinkers found twice as many people believe low-carb beer is healthier than those who believe standard beer is, adding to LiveLighter’s call for more marketing regulation.