We can all agree that alcohol is a huge part of society today. However, a big question I get as a vegan educator and coach is this … is alcohol vegan? To better answer this question I dug into the research to find out as much as I could about the crafting of alcohol and if alcohol is vegan friendly.
In this blog, I will answer the question … is alcohol vegan? However, before I provide you with the variety of booze options available for vegans we will explore the history of alcohol, the safety and benefits of alcohol in moderation and the risks and dangers of alcohol consumption.
History of Alcohol
Alcohol crafting and consumption has a long history. For thousands of years fermented grain, fruit and honey have been used to make alcohol, also known as ethyl alcohol or ethanol. It has been shown that fermented beverages were present in ancient Egyptian civilizations, in China around 7000 BC and in India around 2000 to 3000 BC. Babylonians worshipped a wine Goddess as early as 2700 BC and the people of Greece fermented honey to make mead. In pre-Columbian times many Native American cultures were known to have developed alcoholic beverages and in South America a fermented drink called chicha, made from grapes, corn or apples was crafted and consumed.
In the sixteenth century alcohol was used more for medicinal purposes until the 18th century when the British government passed a law encouraging the use of grains for distilling spirits. This then sparked an increase of alcohol in the market and more recreational use became widespread.
The nineteenth century brought about changes in the attitude towards alcohol and encouraged the moderation of it’s use and the push for prohibition. In the 1930’s the illegal trade of alcohol boomed, as a result of the 1920’s law prohibiting the manufacturing, sale, import and export of intoxicating liquors, so this prohibition was cancelled. After this, alcohol in moderation was legalized for consumption again.
Health Benefits and Safe Consumption Of Alcohol
The Mayo Clinic and other health organizations suggest that moderate use of alcohol is safe, for the most, but for some for some people it is best to refrain from drinking. However, studies show there may be some health related benefits from consuming small amounts of alcohol such as wine. The results of these studies are not certain and not reason to start consuming alcohol if you don’t already.
Some of the possible benefits of alcohol include:
- Possible reduction in risk of developing and dying from heart disease.
- Possible reduction in risk of ischemic stroke.
- Possible reduction in your risk of diabetes.
The guidelines for safe consumption of alcohol are:
- Women of all ages and men over 65: Up to one drink per day
- Men 65 years and younger: Up to two drinks per day
Examples of one drink include:
- Beer: 12 fluid ounces (355 milliliters)
- Wine: 5 fluid ounces (148 milliliters)
- Distilled spirits (80 proof): 1.5 fluid ounces (44 millilitres)
Risks Of Heavy Drinking
Although The Mayo Clinic recognizes there may be some health benefits, with low to moderate alcohol consumption, they so suggest that excessive drinking can increase your risk of serious health problems. These include:
- Certain cancers, including breast cancer and cancers of the mouth, throat and esophagus
- Pancreatitis
- Sudden death if you already have cardiovascular disease
- Heart muscle damage (alcoholic cardiomyopathy) leading to heart failure
- Stroke
- High blood pressure
- Liver disease
- Suicide
- Accidental serious injury or death
- Brain damage and other problems in an unborn child
- Alcohol withdrawal syndrome
Let’s look at some troubling statistics of alcohol consumption:
The Foundation For A Drug-Free World reports that over 15 million Americans suffer from alcoholism and over 40% of all car accident related deaths involve alcohol. For this reason alone alcohol awareness and modification is something that needs to be at the forefront of our societal values.
In the USA, alcohol related incidences kills 88,000 people annually. Most of these deaths, nearly 20,000, per year are the result of alcohol-related liver disease and more than 10,000 are killed in drinking-related automobile accidents. About 1.3 million Americans each year receive treatment or go to rehab for alcohol use disorder and in 2016, more Canadians were hospitalized due to alcohol than heart attacks.
According to the World Health Organization in 2012 about 3.3 million deaths, or 5.9% of all global deaths, were attributable to alcohol consumption. These numbers are frightening.
Benefits of Reducing Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol crafting and consumption has a long history but there are many reasons to cut back on drinking. Alcohol is socially accepted but there are many negative side effects that come along with drinking too much alcohol as mentioned above.
Although organizations, such as The Mayo Clinic, agree that drinking alcohol in moderation may be safe, and in some cases may even provide some health benefits, after researching the effects of alcohol consumption the research also shows that there are numerous benefits that will come from reducing, or eliminating, alcohol consumption.
Drinkaware, an organization in the UK who’s main goal is to help reduce alcohol-related harm by helping people make better choices about their drinking, mentions a variety of benefits that come from reducing alcohol consumption. These include:
- Better Sleep: When you are under the influence of alcohol you spend less time in the deep, REM, sleep, wake up more often and find it harder to get back to sleep. When alcohol consumption is reduced, or eliminated, your sleep will be of better quality; therefore, having a positive effect on your mood and ability to concentrate.
- Positive Mood: When you are feeling sad or anxious being under the influence of alcohol can make it much worse. Because alcohol effects the neurotransmitters in the brain it can make you feel more anxious and depressed when you start to sober up. This is why when alcohol consumption is reduced, or eliminated, mental health and mood is improved.
- More Energy: With lack of sleep and too too much alcohol the body’s immune system can be negatively impacted; therefore, making you more prone to sickness, feeling sluggish and tired. Drinking less alcohol, and perhaps replacing it with water or green juice, will enhance the immune system and increase energy levels.
- Better concentration: Being under the influence, or coming off alcohol makes it hard to concentrate on important tasks, such as work duties. By reducing consumption you will feel brighter, more focused and even less stressed and be better able to focus.
- Better skin: Alcohol dehydrates the body and because the skin is the largest organ of the body it is very much affected. Dark circles and bags around the eyes may form, breakouts and wrinkles may result from too much alcohol consumption. Skin quickly recovers so with the reduction, or elimination, of consumption your skin will improve.
- Weight loss: Alcoholic beverages are very high in calories and sugar, and can result in excess fat. Alcohol also causes stress in the body, which may result in an abundance of cortisol, a stress hormone, that causes excess fat to sit around the waistline. Reducing, or eliminating, alcohol is one sure way to reduce excess fat on the body.
- Better digestion. Alcohol negatively effects the stomach lining and causes it to produce more acid, which may result in diarrhea and indigestion. If you have any stomach problems and drink alcohol this is likely the culprit. Reduce, or eliminate, alcohol to reduce digestive problems.
- More time and money. Drinking on a regular basis can be very expensive and time consuming. By shifting away from this habit you will be able to save money for something else, such as a trip or a new car, and meet new people by doing other activities such as a recreational sport or other hobby.
- Better long-term health. Cutting down on, or eliminating, alcohol consumption will reduce your risk of developing cancer, liver or heart disease and could lower your blood pressure. You may not be able to see the difference you’re making right away but, by drinking within the government’s low risk unit guidelines, you will notice a difference in your health in the long-term.
Is Alcohol Vegan?
After educating yourself about the risks and benefits of drinking alcohol now comes the question… is alcohol vegan? The quick and dirty answer is… yes and no. Unfortunately, although you might think all alcohol is vegan there are a minority of wine, beer and liquors that are made with animal products.
According to Barnivore, vegan beer, wine and liquor directory, a brewmasters, winemakers, and distillers may include animal ingredients in their products directly, or use them to process and filter. When making the product, dairy, honey and other additives are usually listed on the ingredient list. However, when filtering the drinks prior to bottling, companies can use things like isinglass (from fish bladder), gelatine, egg whites, and sea shells, which are not required to be listed on the final ingredient list.
Almost every brand of hard liquor, such as bourbon, whiskey, vodka, gin, and rum, is vegan. Nearly all distilled spirits are vegan, except for cream-based liqueurs and products that list, or made from, honey.
Therefore, if you are concerned about the ethical processing of your alcoholic beverage it’s best to refer to the list below, or an extensive directory, before consuming it.
These beer companies have been listed by PETA as vegan friendly:
- Anderson Valley Brewing Company
- Anheuser-Busch
- Bayhawk Ales
- Beermann’s Beerwerks
- Brass Castle Brewery
- Brasserie Dieu du Ciel Brewpub
- Brasserie New Deal Brewing Co.
- The Brewery at Lake Tahoe, Inc.
- Bristol Brewing Company
- California Cider Company
- Capital Brewery
- Capitol City Brewing Company
- City Steam Brewery Café
- Coeur d’Alene Brewing Company
- Devil’s Canyon Brewing Company
- Diamond Bear Brewing Company
- Dunedin Brewery
- Elliott Bay Brewing Company
- Fat Cat Brewery Ltd.
- Fishbowl Brew Pub/Fish Brewing Company
- Golden Road Brewing
- Goose Island Beer Company
- Gulf Islands Brewery
- Hal & Mal’s
- Hastings Brewery
- Lagunitas Brewing Company
- Lakefront Brewery, Inc.
- Lost Coast Brewery
- Mad River Brewing Company
- Maplewood Farms Restaurant & Brewery
- Market Cross Pub & Brewery
- The Merchant Ale House
- Nelson Brewing Company
- New Belgium Brewery
- North Coast Brewing Company
- Oaken Barrel Brewing Company
- Odell Brewing Company
- The Olde Burnside Brewing Company
- Otter Creek/Wolavers Brewing, Inc.
- Pennsylvania Brewing Company
- Pittsburgh Brewing Company
- Poplar Head Brewery
- Rock Art Brewery
- Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
- Sonora Brewing Company
- Sprecher Brewing Company
- Swashbuckler Brewing Company
- Weeping Radish Restaurant and Brewery
- Willimantic Brewing Company
PETA lists the following wine brands as vegan friendly; however, there are many more listed in an extensive directory:
- Bellissima Prosecco
- Blossom Hill
- China Bend Winery
- Cooper’s Hawk Vineyards
- Frey Vineyards
- Moet & Chandon Champaign
- Organic Biodynamic Wine
- Palmina Wines
- Saghesio Family Vineyards
- Sutter Home
- The Vegan Wine
- Thumbprint Cellars
- Vinavanti Urban Winery
- Wright’s Vineyard and Winery
Urban Tastebud provides a great resource for vegan liquors; however, according to vegan.com, these liquors (short list) are typically vegan:
- Bourbon
- Canadian Whiskey
- Gin
- Irish Whiskey
- Rum
- Schnapps
- Scotch Whiskey
- Tennessee Whiskey
- Tequila
- Vodka
Alcohol is a social drink enjoyed by many around the world and has an extensive history. It has been shown to have some positive benefits in moderate amounts but also many grave negative side effects and consequences when abused. Therefore, reducing or eliminating, alcohol consumption and educating yourself about the risks is essential to ensure your health and safety. As a vegan, who is committed to showing compassion to animals, it is important to be aware of the alcohol you are choosing. Luckily, there are databases, such as Barnivore, that contain vast amounts of information to ensure we, as vegans, don’t spend our money and support companies that use and exploit animals to make alcoholic beverages.
It is ok to enjoy alcoholic beverages on occasion but please drink responsibly and ethically.
Until next time,
Namaste my friends,
Rachel Joy Olsen, Bsc., MBA
Author, Health & Wellness Coach, Vegan