Mixing Beer: Is It Safe To Blend Brews?

Beer is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks worldwide, with the US beer industry generating around $109 billion in revenue in 2021. While drinking beer has been linked to some health benefits, such as increased bone density and improved gut health, it's important to understand the risks associated with alcohol consumption. Drinking beer every day can impact your health, both immediately and in the long term. The key factor in determining the health impact of drinking is the amount consumed, rather than the type of alcohol. Mixing different types of beer, or drinking beer in moderation, does not eliminate the potential health risks, which include an increased risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, and dehydration.

The health risks of drinking two types of beer

Drinking two types of beer can have both positive and negative health effects, depending on the amount consumed.

Positive Health Effects

Drinking one or two standard beers per day (12 ounces or 355 mL) may have positive effects on your heart, bones, blood sugars, and dementia risk. Beer contains B vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which can contribute to these health benefits.

Negative Health Effects

However, heavy and binge drinking of any type of beer can lead to several negative health consequences, including:

• Increased risk of death: Heavy and binge drinkers have a higher risk of early death than moderate drinkers and nondrinkers.
• Alcohol dependence: Frequent alcohol consumption can lead to dependence and alcohol use disorder.
• Increased risk of depression: Research suggests heavy and binge drinkers have a significantly higher risk of depression compared to moderate drinkers and nondrinkers.
• Liver disease: Drinking more than 30 grams of alcohol, which is found in two to three 12-ounce or 355-mL bottles of beer, daily can raise your risk of liver diseases like cirrhosis.
• Weight gain: A standard 12-ounce (355-mL) beer contains around 153 calories, so consuming multiple drinks can contribute to weight gain.
• Cancer: Research associates any alcohol intake with an increased risk of cancers, including throat and mouth cancers.

It is important to note that these health risks are not unique to drinking two types of beer but apply to excessive consumption of any type of beer or alcoholic beverage. To reduce the risk of negative health consequences, it is recommended to limit intake to no more than one standard drink per day for women and two for men.

Recommended alcohol intake

While drinking alcohol, including beer, is common, it is important to be aware of the recommended intake levels to ensure one does not exceed a healthy limit. Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to adverse health effects and increase the risk of alcohol-related harm. Here is some information on recommended alcohol intake:

Chief Medical Officers' Guidelines

The Chief Medical Officers' guidelines provide recommendations for both men and women to minimise health risks associated with alcohol consumption:

• It is safest not to drink more than 14 units of alcohol per week on a regular basis.
• If one regularly drinks up to 14 units per week, it is advisable to spread the drinking evenly over three or more days.
• Having one or two heavy drinking episodes per week increases the risk of death from long-term illnesses, accidents, and injuries.
• The risk of developing health problems, including cancers of the mouth, throat, and breast, increases with regular alcohol consumption.

US Guidelines

According to the "Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025" by the US Department of Health and Human Services and the US Department of Agriculture, adults can choose not to drink or drink in moderation:

• Men should limit their intake to two drinks or less per day.
• Women should limit their intake to one drink or less per day.
• Drinking less is better for health than drinking more.

UK Guidelines

In the UK, the government advises that men and women should not regularly drink more than 14 units of alcohol per week. If drinking this amount, it is recommended to spread the consumption over three or more days.

Binge Drinking and Heavy Drinking

It is important to understand the concepts of binge drinking and heavy drinking, as defined by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA):

• Binge drinking: NIAAA defines it as a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08% or higher. This typically corresponds to 5 or more drinks for men and 4 or more drinks for women in about two hours. SAMHSA defines it as consuming 5 or more drinks for males or 4 or more drinks for females on the same occasion, at least once in the past month.
• Heavy drinking: NIAAA defines heavy drinking as consuming five or more drinks for men or four or more drinks for women on any day or 15 or more drinks per week for men and 8 or more drinks per week for women. SAMHSA defines heavy alcohol use as binge drinking on five or more days in the past month.

Alcohol Misuse

Alcohol misuse refers to drinking in a manner, situation, amount, or frequency that could cause harm to oneself or others. This includes binge drinking and heavy alcohol use. Alcohol misuse can increase the risk of developing alcohol use disorder (AUD), characterised by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol consumption despite adverse consequences.

Alcohol and driving

Drinking alcohol and driving is a serious issue that can lead to fatal consequences. Alcohol is a depressant drug that slows down the activity of the central nervous system, including the brain, and this can severely impact one's ability to drive safely. Even a small amount of alcohol can lead to harmful situations as it affects one's ability to react, coordinate, concentrate, make judgements, and process information.

Alcohol impairs driving in several ways. Firstly, it causes feelings of relaxation and drowsiness, which may lead to falling asleep at the wheel. Secondly, it reduces reaction times, making it difficult to respond to sudden situations such as sudden braking or a pedestrian crossing the street. Thirdly, it impairs concentration and vigilance, making it challenging to stay in one's lane, maintain speed, and follow traffic signals. Fourthly, it creates difficulty in understanding what's happening around you and multitasking, such as keeping in your lane and avoiding other traffic. Fifthly, it can lead to over-confidence and risk-taking behaviour. Sixthly, it affects your vision, causing blurred vision and impaired eye movement, which impacts your ability to judge distances. Lastly, it lowers inhibitions, leading to poor decision-making and increased risk-taking.

The effects of alcohol on driving abilities vary with the amount of alcohol consumed and individual characteristics such as body weight and gender. For example, a 150-pound male's BAC will increase by about 0.02% for each drink consumed, and it takes the body about an hour to remove that amount of alcohol. Women tend to take longer to process and remove alcohol from their bloodstream, resulting in a higher BAC over a more extended period.

The legal consequences of drinking and driving can be severe, including license revocation or suspension, fines, jail time, and increased insurance rates. In the United States, a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.08% is considered legally impaired, and driving with a BAC above this limit is a criminal offense. However, even a single drink can impair driving abilities, and it is never safe to drink and drive.

To ensure safety, it is essential to refrain from drinking if you plan to drive. If you choose to drink, there are ways to manage your alcohol consumption, such as monitoring your drinks, opting for low or zero alcoholic beverages, and being aware of your BAC level. Always have a backup plan, such as using public transportation or ridesharing services, if you intend to drink.

Mixing different types of beer

One of the most well-known mixed beer drinks is the "Black and Tan". This classic combination involves mixing a stout with a pale ale or lager, often in a two-tiered pour to create a visually appealing presentation. Another popular option is the "Radler" or "Shandy", which consists of mixing a light beer, such as a Pilsner or Hefeweizen, with lemonade or lemon-lime soda. This refreshing blend was first created by a Bavarian man, Franz Xaver Kugler, in 1922, to stretch his limited beer supply for a group of hikers and cyclists.

For those feeling adventurous, more complex mixes can be created. For instance, a "Snakebite" is a unique blend of Woodchuck Cider and Bud Light, or any cider mixed with a lager. If you're craving something sweet, try mixing a peanut butter-flavoured imperial stout with a vanilla-flavoured beer for a smooth and indulgent treat. Or, for a fruity twist, combine a chocolate stout with a raspberry pale ale to create a beer version of chocolate-covered raspberries.

When mixing beers, it's important to remember that not all combinations will be equally balanced. Start with smaller pours to experiment with proportions and find the right ratio of each beer. You may find that one beer dominates the flavour profile, and adjustments are necessary to allow other flavours to shine through. So, whether you're a seasoned beer enthusiast or just starting to explore the world of beer, don't be afraid to experiment with different mixes and discover your own unique favourites.

Alcohol and medication

People aged 65 and older are at particularly high risk of harm from combining alcohol and medication. This is due to age-related changes in their physiology and their increasing use of medications that could interact with alcohol. Older adults are susceptible to adverse effects from the combined effects of alcohol and medications because of changes in the body with increasing age that affect the distribution and metabolism of these substances and increase the brain's sensitivity to their effects.

There are three main ways that alcohol and medications can interact:

• Alcohol can alter the metabolism of a medication, speeding or slowing the clearance of the medication from the body and thus raising or lowering the levels of the medication in the blood.
• A medication can influence the absorption and metabolism of alcohol, potentially resulting in higher blood alcohol concentrations and other adverse effects.
• Alcohol can alter the pharmacological effects of the medication, which can increase or decrease the effect of the medication on the body.

Some medications have life-threatening consequences when combined with alcohol, increasing the risk of dangerous side effects or reducing the beneficial effects of medications. For example, combining alcohol with opioids or benzodiazepines can increase the risk of overdose and death due to respiratory depression. Alcohol also plays a causal role in nearly one in five benzodiazepine overdose deaths each year.

Other medications known to interact negatively with alcohol include antidepressants, opioids, antipsychotics, and antibiotics. Combining alcohol with antidepressants can increase the risk of high blood pressure and stroke, while drinking alcohol with antipsychotic medication can cause increased side effects such as difficulty concentrating and impaired thinking or judgment. Certain antibiotics, such as metronidazole and tinidazole, should not be taken with alcohol as this may lead to a fast or irregular heartbeat.

It is important to understand how your medication interacts with alcohol to reduce the risks. If you plan to drink alcohol while taking prescription medications, always discuss the side effects with your doctor or pharmacist.

Frequently asked questions