Here's What Happens to Your Body if You Drink Beer Every Day

How do you unwind at the end of the day? For some people, relaxation comes in the form of enjoying an alcoholic beverage. Sipping a cold beer can signal the end of the work day and the beginning of a few precious hours of “me” time.

Since it’s our habitual routines that impact health the most, if you drink a beer or two every evening (or most evenings), it’s important to know exactly how it’s affecting your mind and body. Sure, you’re likely aware that binge-drinking beer on a regular basis isn’t exactly going to get your doctor's seal of approval. But what if you limit it to just one or two?

The impact of any food or drink on a person varies greatly, depending on an individual’s family history, personal health, and other dietary and lifestyle choices. However, registered dietitians say that there are some general ways that moderate beer drinking can impact health.

Related: This Is Exactly How Long Alcohol Stays In Your System, According to Doctors

4 Things That Happen To Your Body if You Drink Beer Every Day

1. It could make you feel down

While enjoying a beer at the end of the day may help you feel more relaxed in the moment, registered dietitian Alex D’Elia, RDN, says that it can actually make you feel worse in the long run. “Alcohol is considered a depressant and a sedative, so while it may feel nice and relaxing at the end of the day, once it wears off it can make anxiety worse,” she explains. This is because of how alcohol affects the brain. D’Elia adds that it changes the levels of GABA and serotonin. This can lead to increased feelings of anxiety or depression.

Yelena Wheeler, RDN, a registered dietitian at National Coalition on Health, explains that relying on having a beer to relax could lead to ineffectively dealing with stressors. “It can cause a dependence on something, through a habit, especially when something is stressful. Coping with setbacks and stressors need to have healthy outlets, rather than depending on an external substance,” she says.

Related: The One Popular Boozy Drink to Avoid During a Heatwave—and What to Drink Instead

2. It could keep you up at night

While having a beer could make you feel relaxed, D’Elia and Wheeler both say that it could actually make you less likely to sleep well through the night. Wheeler explains that alcohol can interfere with melatonin, a hormone the brain produces in response to darkness and plays a major role in the sleep cycle. “While alcohol is a sedative and helps you fall asleep faster, it can actually disrupt REM sleep and reduce overall sleep quality making it more difficult to wake up in the morning and leaving a lot of people feeling tired and sluggish,” D’Elia says. She adds that this is another reason why drinking beer can negatively impact mental health: Mood definitely takes a nosedive when you don’t get enough sleep.

3. It could harm your gut

Registered dietitian Johna Burdeos, RD, says that even one or two beers can cause disruptions in digestion for some people. Science shows that alcohol irritates the gut and kills the good bacteria living in your microbiome. In the short term, this can cause some digestive issues or heartburn. In the long term, it could lead to inflammatory conditions such as gastritis—yes, even moderate drinking!

Related: A New Study About Wine's Impact on Brain Health May Have You Rethinking Your Daily Glass

4. It could up your risk for certain health conditions

While science is clear that excessive drinking can negatively impact health in many ways, when it comes to moderate drinking, the research is mixed. In fact, some studies show that moderate drinking is not associated with weight gain and could even positively impact health. However, there’s something that Burdeos (and scientific studies) make very clear: Alcohol is never good for the liver. And yes, that includes just one beer a night. Even moderate alcohol drinking increases the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

It bears repeating that having a few drinks once in a while is likely not going to cause a cascade of negative health problems. But the habits we engage in do matter—and that includes how we unwind at the end of the day. If you’re used to drinking beer as a way to relax, Burdeos says it’s worth it to consider a new non-alcohol-related way to transition from day to night. Some ideas she suggests are walking, gardening, yoga, dancing, soaking in the tub, reading, doing crossword puzzles or meditating.

At first, it might not be easy to replace your nightly habit of drinking a beer with doing something else. Fortunately, there are many great-tasting non-alcoholic beers that can make it easier. Some brands to check out include Athletic Brewing, Best Day Brewing, Ceria and Rescue Club Brewing.

Replacing your nightly beer with another way to relax will benefit both your body and mental health. It will also make the times you do enjoy a beer feel extra special. Now that’s something to raise your glass to.

Next up, find out what it means to be sober curious.

Sources

• Alex D’Elia, RDN, registered dietitian nutritionist

• Yelena Wheeler, RDN, registered dietitian nutritionist at National Coalition on Health

• Johna Burdeos, RD, registered dietitian