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Updated on July 31, 2023
7 min read

Drinking Beer Every Day

Kelly Brown
Dr P. E. Pancoast, MD
Written by 
9 Sources Cited
Kelly Brown
Written by 
9 Sources Cited

Is it Normal to Drink Beer Every Day?

Drinking a small amount of alcohol each day should be safe. However, a daily drinking habit might be an indication of a problem.

People who need to drink daily have a higher risk of developing an alcohol use disorder (AUD). In some cases, daily drinking indicates AUD has already developed.

Alcohol can have long-term effects on your body, and drinking daily can have a significant impact on your health. The more you drink, the more likely you are to suffer from certain health consequences.

Although drinking beer daily may not mean you’re an alcoholic, it can indicate a drinking problem. Speak to a doctor if you start to notice a problem with alcohol.

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What Happens to Your Body if You Drink Beer Every Day? 

Daily beer consumption affects your body in a variety of ways and causes health problems, including:

Weight Gain and Beer Belly

Beer increases caloric and carbs intake and might prevent fat burning. It also contains phytoestrogens, which may increase the risk of storing belly fat.

Increased Risk of Heart Disease

Excessive alcohol consumption causes a spike in heart rate, which is especially dangerous for people with existing heart conditions and high blood pressure

A 2018 study published in the April issue of The Lancet found that people who had 10 or more drinks per week died of cardiovascular disease one to two years earlier than people consuming five drinks or fewer per week. 

Having 18 drinks or more per week cuts life expectancy by 4 to 5 years.

Damages the Liver

Excessive alcohol intake causes liver injury and leads to liver disease. Initially, a person develops fatty liver, where excess fat is stored in the liver, which later leads to ongoing liver inflammation (hepatitis). Finally, when scar tissue accumulates from chronic hepatitis/inflammation, the person develops cirrhosis.

Nerve Damage

Long-term excessive beer consumption can lead to alcoholic neuropathy. Nerve damage is associated with long periods of drinking too much, as well as nutritional deficiencies caused by over-drinking.

Memory Problems

Heavy alcohol consumption causes memory lapses. This can occur after one night of binge drinking. Long-term heavy drinking can also lead to permanent memory loss and dementia.

Sexual Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction has a higher prevalence in those who drink excessively.

The damage caused by daily alcohol consumption varies from person to person. The severity of the damage also varies based on your gender and other factors.

How Much Beer is Too Much? 

Guidelines exist to help people determine how much beer is healthy to consume. Unfortunately, these are general guidelines and don’t apply to everyone. 

Although general guidelines are helpful for some people, many medical experts believe otherwise. They believe it’s better to take a more personalized approach to alcohol consumption.9

As you get to know your body better and how it responds to alcohol, you might find the guidelines too liberal. Your threshold for alcohol consumption varies based on:

  • Age
  • Weight
  • Medications
  • Pre-existing conditions
  • Drinking experience and habits

What is Considered Excessive Drinking?

Heavy drinking can vary depending on the person's gender. NIAAA defines heavy drinking as the following:

  • For men: consuming more than 4 drinks on any day or more than 14 drinks per week
  • For women: consuming more than 3 drinks on any day or more than 7 drinks per week

What is Considered Moderate Drinking?

The threshold for moderate drinking also depends on a person's gender. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, moderate drinking is considered as:

  • For men: consuming less than 2 drinks a day
  • For women: consuming less than 1 drink a day
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Risks of Drinking Beer Everyday

Whether you're drinking beer or hard liquors, excessive alcohol use can lead to the development of chronic health diseases. The serious negative effects of drinking beer every day include:

  • High blood pressure
  • Heart disease and strokes
  • Liver damage and disease
  • Cancer
  • Weakened immune system
  • Learning and memory problems
  • Mental health problems (anxiety or depression)
  • Risk of developing an alcohol use disorder (AUD)
  • Risk of developing alcohol dependence
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Does Beer Have Any Health Benefits?

Despite the risks someone faces as a heavy drinker, beer offers a variety of health benefits when consumed in moderation. For example:

Beer Boosts Your Daily Nutrient Intake

Beer contains more B vitamins, folate, niacin, phosphorus, and protein than wine. It offers the same amount of antioxidants as wine. It also contains fiber and prebiotics.

Beer Might Lower Risk of Diabetes

A study published in the journal European Association for the Study Diabetes determined that moderate drinkers (those who drink no more than two drinks per day) were less likely to develop diabetes than people who never drink. However, drinking more than two alcoholic drinks daily increases the risk of developing diabetes.

Male beer drinkers had less than a 20 percent lower risk of type 2 diabetes.

Beer Might Improve Heart Health

Wine is the usual choice for boosting heart health, but beer offers similar benefits. One American Heart Association study found that moderate drinkers had the slowest decline in HDL (good) cholesterol.

Beer Might Reduce Your Risk of Alzheimer's Disease or Dementia

Researchers from Loyola University in Chicago found that moderate drinkers had a 23 percent lower risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s. 

Some believe this is linked to beer’s ability to raise good cholesterol, which is beneficial for brain health.

Beer Might Reduce Inflammation

One study published in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research found that hops, which are found in beer, have anti-inflammatory properties

How to Drink Less Beer 

Whether you want to reduce how much beer you’re drinking because you are concerned about addiction or solely because you want to improve your physical risks, there are several things you can do. 

For example:

  • Journal when you drink — Track your alcohol consumption to help understand how much you’re drinking and if any patterns are linked to your drinking, such as drinking alone.
  • Set drinking limits — Decide how much you want to drink and set a limit.
  • Schedule no-drinking days — Schedule a few days where you don't drink. You can set up “dry” weeks and months to help you abstain from alcohol in an organized and systematic way.
  • Don’t keep alcohol in your home — If you don't have easy access to alcohol, you’re less likely to drink as much.
  • Flip-flop drinks — Reduce how much you drink by balancing each beer with a glass of water. Not only will you drink less alcohol, but you’ll also feel better because you’ll stay hydrated.

Signs You Have a Drinking Problem

Recognizing when drinking beer daily has become a drinking problem is challenging for some people. 

Some of the signs you have a drinking problem include:

  • Wanting to stop drinking and being unable to
  • Drinking more or for a longer time than you intended
  • Spending a lot of time drinking or recovering from alcohol
  • Excessive focus on drinking or craving alcohol, such as not going to restaurants that don't serve alcohol
  • Problems at work, school, or in relationships due to drinking alcohol
  • Giving up activities you once enjoyed to drink
  • Engaging in risky behavior because of drinking 
  • Drinking despite increased anxiety, depression, and other negative mental health consequences
  • Needing more alcohol to achieve the same effect
  • Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking

How to Find Help for Your Alcohol Problem

If you’ve tried to cut back on drinking and you’ve been unsuccessful, it’s likely time to seek professional support. There are many treatment options available. For instance:

It doesn’t matter if you’ve developed an alcohol use disorder (AUD) or are unsure how to reduce your alcohol consumption despite wanting to do so. If you have trouble controlling your drinking habits on your own, it's very appropriate to seek treatment and support from medical professionals and trusted loved ones.

Updated on July 31, 2023
9 sources cited
Updated on July 31, 2023
All Alcoholrehabhelp content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.

We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies.
  1. Alcohol.” The Nutrition Source, 2012.

  2. Solan, Matthew. “Alcohol and Heart Health - Harvard Health Blog.” Harvard Health Blog, 2018.

  3. Torborg L., “Mayo Clinic Q and A: Is Daily Drinking Problem Drinking?” Mayo Clinic, 2018.

  4. 7 Science-Backed Reasons Beer May Be Good for You.” NBC News, 2018.

  5. Drayer, L. “The Non-Alcoholic’s Guide to Drinking Less Alcohol.” CNN, 2017.

  6. Moderate Drinking Can Reduce Alzheimer’s Risk.” Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, 2011.

  7. Drinking Beer May Be Good for Heart Health | Penn State University.” PennState. 2016

  8. Health Benefits.” Euryale Brewing Company.

  9. Costanzo, S., et al. "Will guidelines on alcohol consumption be personalized by a genetic approach?" Genes Nutr, 2021.

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All content created by Alcohol Rehab Help is sourced from current scientific research and fact-checked by an addiction counseling expert. However, the information provided by Alcohol Rehab Help is not a substitute for professional treatment advice.
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