If you're switching to alcohol-free beer, sugar content is one of the first things worth checking. Some AF beers are genuinely low-sugar. Others? They're hiding more sugar per can than you'd find in a chocolate biscuit.
We've pulled together the actual sugar figures for the most popular alcohol-free beers in the UK — per 100ml and per full can — so you can compare properly.
Sugar Content Comparison: UK Alcohol-Free Beers
Here's how the major AF beers stack up on sugar, based on their published nutritional information:
| Beer | Sugar per 100ml | Sugar per can/bottle | Calories per 100ml |
|---|---|---|---|
| IMPOSSIBREW Lager | 0.0g | 0.0g (440ml) | 6 kcal |
| IMPOSSIBREW Pale | 0.1g | 0.4g (440ml) | 6 kcal |
| BrewDog Punk AF | 0.5g | 1.7g (330ml) | 10 kcal |
| Lucky Saint | 1.0g | 3.3g (330ml) | 20 kcal |
| Heineken 0.0 | 1.3g | 4.3g (330ml) | 21 kcal |
| Guinness 0.0 | 1.5g | 6.3g (420ml) | 17 kcal |
| Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% | 3.0g | 9.9g (330ml) | 24 kcal |
| Erdinger Alkoholfrei | 3.2g | 16.0g (500ml) | 25 kcal |
| Bavaria 0.0 | 2.8g | 9.2g (330ml) | 24 kcal |
The difference is significant. A single can of Erdinger Alkoholfrei contains 16g of sugar — roughly the same as four digestive biscuits. IMPOSSIBREW Lager contains none.
Why Do Some Alcohol-Free Beers Have So Much Sugar?
When you remove alcohol from beer, you lose body and mouthfeel. Many breweries compensate by leaving residual sugars in the brew or adding sweeteners to make the beer taste fuller. It's an easy shortcut, but it defeats the purpose for anyone choosing AF beer for health reasons.
The brewing method matters too. Traditional dealcoholisation (heating the beer to evaporate alcohol) tends to leave more sugar behind. More modern approaches — like arrested fermentation or vacuum distillation — give brewers better control over the final sugar content.
IMPOSSIBREW uses a process that keeps sugar at near-zero levels while maintaining genuine beer flavour. The result is a beer with 27 calories per 440ml can — less than a glass of orange juice.
Hidden Sugar: What the Labels Don't Always Tell You
In the UK, nutritional labelling on alcohol-free beer isn't always straightforward. Some brands only list sugar per 100ml, which makes a high-sugar beer look reasonable until you multiply it by the actual serving size.
A beer showing "3g per 100ml" doesn't sound alarming — but in a 500ml bottle, that's 15g of sugar. For context, the NHS recommends adults consume no more than 30g of free sugars per day. Two bottles of a higher-sugar AF beer could use up your entire daily allowance.
If you're tracking sugar intake — whether for weight management, diabetes, or general health — always check the per-serving figure, not just per 100ml.
Does Sugar-Free Mean Taste-Free?
This is the common assumption, and it's wrong. Sugar isn't what makes beer taste good — it's the malt, the hops, and the brewing process. A well-brewed low-sugar AF beer should taste like beer, not like flavoured water.
IMPOSSIBREW's range has won multiple awards including UK's Best Tasting Alcohol-Free Beer at the World Beer Awards — with essentially zero sugar. The flavour comes from the brewing, not from added sweetness.
On top of that, IMPOSSIBREW contains a unique Social Blend™ of functional ingredients — including L-Theanine, Ashwagandha, and Magnesium — designed to help you relax without alcohol. So you're not just avoiding sugar; you're getting something genuinely useful in return.
Best Low-Sugar Alcohol-Free Beers in the UK
If low sugar is your priority, here are the best options available in the UK right now:
- IMPOSSIBREW Lager — 0.0g sugar, 27 cal per can, functional ingredients
- IMPOSSIBREW Pale — 0.1g sugar per 100ml, same low-calorie profile
- BrewDog Punk AF — 0.5g per 100ml, widely available
- Lucky Saint — 1.0g per 100ml, decent flavour but higher calorie
The gap between the best and worst options is enormous. Choosing wisely can mean the difference between 0g and 16g of sugar per serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is alcohol-free beer high in sugar?
It depends entirely on the brand. Some AF beers contain 3g+ of sugar per 100ml (up to 16g per bottle), while others like IMPOSSIBREW contain virtually none. Always check the label.
Which alcohol-free beer has the least sugar?
IMPOSSIBREW Lager has 0.0g of sugar per serving, making it the lowest-sugar alcohol-free beer widely available in the UK.
Is the sugar in alcohol-free beer bad for you?
In moderation, small amounts of sugar aren't harmful. But if you're drinking AF beer regularly as a healthier alternative to alcohol, choosing a high-sugar option somewhat undermines the point. Low-sugar options let you enjoy beer without trading one health concern for another.
How many calories are in sugar-free alcohol-free beer?
IMPOSSIBREW contains just 6 calories per 100ml (27 per 440ml can). Most AF beers range from 10-25 calories per 100ml, with higher-sugar options sitting at the top end.
If you want to try a genuinely sugar-free beer that doesn't compromise on taste, grab a Welcome Bundle with a love-it-or-return-it guarantee.
