‘Hangover-Free Beer’: What’s the Catch? Scientists Say They’ve Developed Beer that Doesn’t Give Hangover

Bottles stand in row at the bottling facility of the Radeberger Export Beer Brewery in Radeberg, Germany, Nov. 19, 2013 (AP Photo/dpa, Sebastian Kahnert,File)

A report going viral says scientists have invented a “hangover-free beer” that can hydrate people and has added electrolytes.

However, it’s worth noting that the development took place more than a year ago when Australian scientists developed the beer.

“To make their wonder beer, scientists at Griffith University’s Health Institute added electrolytes—substances that affect the amount of water in your body—to two different commercial beers, one regular strength and one light. They then gave the beverages to volunteers that had just completed a rigorous work out,” a report from IFL Science says.

But it notes that the beer can’t completely eradicate the effects of a hangover.

“We know that beer is a very popular drink with people, particularly after sport or exertion,” researcher Ben Desbrow was quoted by ABC News as saying at the time. “From our perspective it’s about exploring harm minimization approaches that may still allow people to potentially drink beer as a beverage, but lower the risks associated with the alcohol consumption—and hopefully improve rehydration potential.”

They found that the beer was about three times more hydrating than normal beer.

And the effect only works in beers that have a lower alcohol content.

“Alcohol in a dehydrated body can have all sorts of repercussions, including decreased awareness of risk,” Desbrow added, per the New York Daily News. “So, if you’re going to live in the real world, you can either spend your time telling people what they shouldn’t do, or you can work on ways of reducing the danger of some of these socialized activities.”

A report from Vice a few days ago says that a craft beer made from seawater gives next-to-no-hangover.

“I’ve smugly stumbled on a great craft beer from near Valencia called Er Boqueron, which is made from the purest Mediterranean sea water. It unassumingly contains one of the best mineral contents of any beer yet to rehydrate as you drink, and unbelievably it’s really refreshing, tastes a little hoppy, and comes with an alcoholic kick. It even helps replenish electrolytes after sport, and seems to be accidentally making ground on the impossible quest for one of the holy grails of brewing: a tasty, alcoholic beer with not too noxious a hangover,” writes the website.