A new study surveyed 769 beer drinkers to see what they think about putting nutrition information on beer bottles and cans. The good news: most people say they want to know how many calories are in their beer. The surprising news: even though many beers already show this information, most people don’t know how many calories they’re drinking. This suggests that simply adding labels might not be enough to change how people buy beer. The study also found that people like the idea of giving small breweries extra time to follow new labeling rules, but they don’t want to scan QR codes to find nutrition facts.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Do beer drinkers want nutrition labels on their drinks, and would they actually use them to make better choices?
  • Who participated: 769 people in the United States who drink beer, surveyed about their thoughts on nutrition labeling
  • Key finding: About 75% of beer drinkers surveyed said they support putting nutrition information on beer labels, but most people significantly underestimate how many calories are in popular beers—even when that information is already available on the package.
  • What it means for you: If you drink beer, nutrition labels could help you make choices that fit your health goals. However, labels alone won’t work unless people actually look at them and understand what they mean. You may need to actively seek out calorie information rather than expecting it to automatically change your habits.

The Research Details

Researchers created a survey and asked 769 beer drinkers across the United States to answer questions about nutrition labels on alcoholic drinks. The survey asked people what they thought about the government’s plan to require nutrition information on beer bottles and cans. It also tested whether people knew how many calories were in different popular beers. The researchers wanted to understand what information people wanted to see, how they’d use it, and what concerns they had about the new rules.

This type of study is called a ‘cross-sectional survey,’ which means researchers took a snapshot of people’s opinions at one point in time. It’s like taking a photo rather than following people over months or years. The researchers didn’t try to change anyone’s behavior—they just asked questions and recorded the answers.

Understanding what people actually think about nutrition labels is important before the government makes new rules. If people don’t want the labels or won’t use them, the new rules might not help people make healthier choices. This study gives real information about what beer drinkers actually think, which can help policymakers and beer companies make better decisions.

This study has some strengths: it surveyed a fairly large group of people (769), and it asked specific questions about real beers and real calorie counts. However, the study only looked at beer drinkers’ opinions at one moment in time, so we don’t know if their opinions would change over time. We also don’t know if the people surveyed represent all beer drinkers in America, or if they were mostly from certain regions or age groups. The study shows what people say they would do, but not what they actually do when shopping for beer.

What the Results Show

The most important finding is that most beer drinkers (around 75%) said they support putting nutrition information on beer labels. Many said they would use this information to help decide which beer to buy. This suggests that people care about knowing what’s in their drinks.

However, there’s a big problem: when researchers asked people how many calories were in popular beers, most people guessed way too low. For example, people might think a beer has 100 calories when it actually has 150 or more. This is important because it shows that people don’t currently know much about beer calories, even though many beers already have this information printed on them.

The study also found that people like the idea of giving small breweries extra time to add nutrition labels, since small companies might have a harder time making these changes quickly. But when asked if they’d be okay with scanning a QR code on the bottle to see nutrition facts instead of having it printed on the label, most people said no—they want the information printed right on the bottle where they can see it.

The research found that different types of beer drinkers had different opinions. Some people cared a lot about calories, while others didn’t think it mattered much. People who were already interested in health and fitness were more likely to say they’d use nutrition labels when buying beer. The study also showed that people wanted to see information about calories, carbohydrates, and protein on beer labels, but they weren’t as interested in seeing every tiny detail.

This study builds on earlier research showing that people want to know what’s in their food and drinks. Similar studies on food labels have shown that people say they want nutrition information, but they don’t always read it or use it when shopping. This beer study suggests the same pattern might happen with alcohol—people might say they want labels, but actually using them could be different.

This study only asked people what they thought and what they said they would do—it didn’t watch people actually shopping for beer to see if they read labels or changed their choices. The study also only looked at beer drinkers, so we don’t know if wine or liquor drinkers would feel the same way. We don’t know if the people surveyed were representative of all beer drinkers in America. Finally, the study was done before any new labeling rules were actually put in place, so we don’t know how people would actually behave once labels are required.

The Bottom Line

If you drink beer and care about calories or nutrition, start looking at the nutrition information that’s already available on many beer bottles and cans. Don’t wait for new labels—the information is often there now. If you want to track your calorie intake from beer, write down the calories in the beers you usually drink and keep a running total. When new nutrition labels do appear on beer bottles, take a moment to read them before buying. (Moderate confidence: based on survey responses, not on actual behavior change)

This matters most for people who drink beer regularly and want to manage their calorie intake or overall health. It’s also important for people with diabetes or other conditions where tracking calories matters. Policymakers and beer companies should care about these findings because they show that labels alone might not be enough—people might need education about how to use the information. People who rarely drink beer or don’t care about calories probably don’t need to change anything.

If new nutrition labels are added to beer bottles, you might start noticing them within a few months. However, changing your actual beer choices based on calorie information could take longer—probably several weeks to a few months of regularly checking labels before it becomes a habit.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Create a ‘Beer Calories Tracker’ feature where users can log the type and amount of beer they drink, and the app automatically calculates total calories consumed per week. Users could set a weekly calorie goal from alcohol and see how close they get.
  • Add a ‘Calorie Comparison’ tool in the app that lets users search for their favorite beers and see how many calories each one has. When they’re about to buy a beer, they could quickly check the app to compare options and pick the lower-calorie choice.
  • Track weekly beer consumption and calories over months to show trends. Create a dashboard that displays total alcohol calories as a percentage of daily calorie intake, helping users understand how beer fits into their overall nutrition picture. Send optional weekly summaries showing progress toward calorie goals.

This study reflects what beer drinkers said they think about nutrition labels, not medical advice. If you have health concerns related to alcohol consumption or calorie intake, talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian. This research does not recommend how much beer is safe to drink—that’s a question for your healthcare provider. The findings are based on survey responses and may not reflect actual behavior when people shop for beer. Always consult with a healthcare professional before making significant changes to your diet or alcohol consumption.