New research has revealed the Brits’ favorite drink puts drinkers at risk of obesity and poor health.

In the United States, researchers surveyed more than 1,900 adults who reported current alcohol consumption, comparing the diets of those who drank only beer (38.9%), only wine (21.8%). %), only spirits (18.2%) or a combination of types of alcohol (21%).

Their reported eating habits were then measured against the Healthy Eating Index, a rating metric that can be used to determine the overall quality of a person’s diet.

The alarming study found that none of these four groups scored above 80, an indicator of an “adequate diet”, but one group stood out as the lowest.

Wine drinkers were around 55 points, while spirits drinkers and those consuming different types of drinks scored close to 53 points.

But beer drinkers, who are more likely to be male, younger smokers and lower income, ranked last at 49.

They also reported the highest daily calorie intake and the least physical exercise, factors that put them at higher risk of obesity and related diseases, according to the research team.

Dr. Madeline Novack, chief resident of the Tulane School of Medicine’s internal medicine residency program and lead author of the study, sounded a warning about the extent of alcohol-related illness, saying, “Overconsumption Alcohol consumption is the leading cause of cirrhosis in the United States, and metabolic disorders associated with steatotic liver disease (MASLD) are 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 consumption and poor diet,” she said. she added.

But according to Dr. Novak, the differences in diet quality highlighted by their results could be linked to the environments in which these different types of alcohol are consumed.

She noted that wine, especially red wine, is often drunk with more balanced meals that include meat, vegetables and dairy.

Beer, on the other hand, is often consumed in places where foods are low in fiber and high in carbohydrates and processed meats.

It has also been suggested that the food we can eat also influences the choice of alcohol, with fried or salty foods creating a thirst that makes us want beer rather than other drinks.

The study will be presented Sunday at the Liver Meeting, hosted by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, in San Diego.

THE NHS The website recommends drinking no more than 14 units of alcohol per week, spread over 3 or more days. This is equivalent to approximately six medium glasses of wine (175ml), or six pints of 4% beer.