By Stephen Beech via SWNS

Beer drinkers have worse diets than wine lovers, according to a new study.

Researchers found that people who only drink lager or bitter eat lower-quality food, are less active, and are more likely to smoke cigarettes than people who drink wine, spirits, or a combination of booze.

The study involved more than 1,900 American adults who reported what alcohol they drank.

The research team compared the diet quality among people who consume only beer (38.9%), only wine (21.8%), only spirits (18.2%), or a combination of alcohol types (21%).

They also measured self-reported eating habits against the Healthy Eating Index, a standardized tool based on dietary guidelines.

None of the alcohol-using groups came close to achieving the 80-point score that is considered an “adequate” diet on the 100-point Healthy Eating Index, according to the findings published in the journal Nutrients.

However, the beer drinkers scored the lowest (49) while wine drinkers scored 55, and both those who only drank spirits and combination drinkers scored nearly 53.

Beer-only drinkers – who were more likely to be male, younger, smokers, and on a low income – also reported the highest total daily calorie intake, adjusting for body weight, and the lowest level of physical activity.

Previous studies have found that dietary quality declines with increasing alcohol consumption of any type, but little has been reported on the influence of specific types of alcoholic drink.

Study lead author Dr. Madeline Novack, of Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, said: “Alcohol overuse is the leading cause of cirrhosis in the United States, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is rapidly increasing.

“Both types of liver disease often coexist, and lifestyle changes are key to managing and preventing these conditions, starting with understanding the link between alcohol use and poor nutrition.”

Dr. Novack said the differences in diet quality among drinkers could be attributed to the context in which food and alcohol are consumed together.

She explained that beer is often chosen in settings where the available foods tend to be low in fiber and high in carbohydrates and processed meats.

On the other hand, wine – particularly red wine – is often paired with meals consisting of meat, vegetables and dairy.

She said: “Another possibility is the inverse, where dietary choices influence the choice of alcohol consumed.

“For example, fried or salty foods create thirst that may also lead to beer-only consumption.”

Dr. Novack added: “For prevention of liver disease and other health issues, physicians should ask about the type of alcohol consumed to guide discussion of healthy behaviors.

“For example, findings of this study can be applied to patients who identify as beer-only drinkers and physicians could suggest increasing fruit and vegetable intake, as well as physical activity.”

Dr. Novack is due to present the findings today [SUNDAY NOV 17] at a meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases ( AASLD) in San Diego, California.