Is Hard Seltzer Bad For You? | Health Concerns & Other Effects

Hard seltzer is thought to be healthier than other alcoholic beverages like wine, beer, or mixed drinks. But is that actually the case? 

Since hard seltzer has alcohol in it, it can still have negative effects. If abused, hard seltzer can have the same health concerns as other alcoholic drinks. 

What Is Hard Seltzer?

Hard seltzer is fruit-flavored carbonated water that has alcohol in it. A lot of people think these hard seltzers are simply seltzer with vodka but that is not the case at all. 

Hard seltzers are generally seltzer with added sugar that has gone through a fermentation process. Some brands add in different flavorings or fruit juices as well.

Additionally, unlike some other forms of alcohol, hard seltzer isn’t grain-fermented but fermented using cane sugar. That makes it vegan and also lowers the alcohol content. 

Because it doesn’t contain any wheat or barley, most hard seltzers are also gluten-free. 

Types Of Hard Seltzer

There are several different hard seltzer brands on the market. Three of the most popular brands include:

• Bon & Viv spiked seltzer (purified water, champagne yeast, and natural fruit flavors) 
• White Claw (seltzer water, gluten-free alcohol base, and a hint of fruit flavor)
• Truly (filtered carbonated water, alcohol made from cane sugar, natural flavors, and citric acid)

All of these hard seltzer brands have around 100 calories and less than 2 grams of sugar and carbs per drink.

How Much Alcohol Is In Hard Seltzer?

How much alcohol is in hard seltzer all depends on the brand you buy. Bon & Viv contains 4.5% alcohol by volume (ABV) and White Claw and Truly have 5% ABV. 

These percentages are similar to what you’d find in a 12-ounce bottle of lite beer, although some craft beers can have up to 11% ABV or more. 

Is Hard Seltzer Healthier Than Wine Or Beer?

While alcoholic seltzer generally has fewer carbohydrates and calories compared to beer and wine, that doesn’t mean they’re healthier. 

Fewer calories and carbs can help your waistline, but there’s still alcohol in hard seltzer. If you drink enough of it, it can be just as harmful as any other alcoholic beverage. 

If used in moderation (1 drink for women or 2 drinks for men per day), it can be a good way to reduce calories. However, drinking water or sparkling water will always likely be better for you than anything with alcohol or sugar in it.

The Downside Of Hard Seltzer

Hard seltzer is often perceived as being healthier or better than beer, but that’s not really the case. Although it’s likely better for you than a margarita or a martini, it has about the same health benefits as a light beer.

Because of this perception of healthiness, binge drinking or excessive alcohol consumption is a major concern. In terms of the number of drinks, binge drinking means four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men over a two-hour period.

Binge drinking increases the risk of:

• accidents and injuries
• alcohol poisoning
• liver disease
• certain types of cancer
• memory loss
• depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders
• diabetes

Health Concerns Of Hard Seltzer

Besides binge drinking and the issues that come as a result of it, there are other concerns that come with drinking hard seltzer excessively over time.

Lack Of Nourishment

While it’s great that hard seltzer doesn’t have as many calories or as much sugar as other alcoholic drinks, it doesn’t come with much nourishment or nutrients either. It’s all empty calories. 

No matter what the advertisements say or the healthy perception, hard seltzer is still alcohol and doesn’t contain anything with much nutritional value.

Not Great For Hydration

Alcohol is a diuretic and can lead to dehydration. Hard seltzer may contain water but the alcohol works against it. If you’re looking to stay hydrated while you’re drinking, make sure to have at least one glass of water in between each drink. 

Excessive Use

This goes along with binge drinking, but because hard seltzer doesn’t make you feel full like beer does and comes in an easy-to-drink can, it can be very easy to overindulge. That can mean more calories than you planned on and much more alcohol than is considered healthy. 

Make sure you’re still counting how many drinks you have and not leaving these out just because they’re seltzer. Moderation is still important.

If you or a loved one struggles with alcohol abuse, call our helpline today.