Is Beer, hard seltzer & hard cider safe during pregnancy?
Not recommended in pregnancy — beer is as risky as other alcohol. While breastfeeding, limit to 1 drink and wait 2+ hours.
What the sources say
CDC: there is no known safe amount or safe time to drink alcohol during pregnancy, and all types — wine, beer and liquor — can be harmful, raising risks of miscarriage, stillbirth and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. It's never too late to stop. While breastfeeding, CDC says not drinking is safest; up to 1 standard drink a day is not known to harm the baby if you wait at least 2 hours before nursing. Pumping and dumping doesn't speed up clearance. One standard drink = 12 oz of 5% beer; Mayo Clinic notes 8 oz of 7% malt liquor is also one drink. Stronger or larger beers count as more.
Common alternatives
Also listed as
beer, lager, ipa, stout, light beer, craft beer, hard seltzer, white claw, hard cider, malt liquor, hard kombucha, shandy
Sources
- CDC: About Alcohol Use During Pregnancy
- CDC: Alcohol and Breastfeeding
- Mayo Clinic: Breastfeeding and alcohol: Is it OK to drink?
- MotherToBaby: Food and Beverages to Avoid During Pregnancy
Last reviewed . This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor or midwife about your own situation.