WomensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex & Love
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Weight Loss
  • Women In Sport
  • Podcasts
  • Video
WomensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex & Love
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Weight Loss
  • Women In Sport
  • Podcasts
  • Video
This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack
Watch 0:23

This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack

{headline}

{headline}

The Bachelor's Bekah Martinez Reveals The 5 Foods That Cleared Her Adult Acne

The Bachelor's Bekah Martinez Reveals The 5 Foods That Cleared Her Adult Acne

Gut Health Foods: A Nutritionist Reveals How Much Is Too Much

Gut Health Foods: A Nutritionist Reveals How Much Is Too Much

Everything You Need To Know About Sauerkraut And Its Health Benefits

Everything You Need To Know About Sauerkraut And Its Health Benefits

Science Confirms You Suffer Way Worse Hangovers In Your 30s

Science Confirms You Suffer Way Worse Hangovers In Your 30s

{headline}

{headline}

12 Surprising Things Things That Are Ruining Your Teeth

12 Surprising Things Things That Are Ruining Your Teeth

Study Finds Cooked Veggies Are Better For Your Gut Health Than Eating Them Raw

Study Finds Cooked Veggies Are Better For Your Gut Health Than Eating Them Raw

Everything You Need To Know About The Lectin-Free Diet

Everything You Need To Know About The Lectin-Free Diet

{headline}

{headline}

What To Eat (And Drink) When You Come Down With The Flu

What To Eat (And Drink) When You Come Down With The Flu

What Is Kefir And What Are Its Health Benefits?

What Is Kefir And What Are Its Health Benefits?

4 Things That Could Be Causing Your Gut Issues

4 Things That Could Be Causing Your Gut Issues

Research Just Linked Poor Gut Health To The Spread Of This Cancer

Research Just Linked Poor Gut Health To The Spread Of This Cancer

PSA: Kombucha Is Just As Bad For Your Teeth As Soft Drink

PSA: Kombucha Is Just As Bad For Your Teeth As Soft Drink

So, How Much Farting is Normal *Really?*

So, How Much Farting is Normal *Really?*

These Are The Best Foods For Gut Health

These Are The Best Foods For Gut Health

  1. Home
  2. Food

PSA: Your Kombucha May Contain As Much Alcohol As Half A Light Beer

P-platers and pregnant women, take note. - by Lucy Bode
  • 26 Sep 2019
PSA: Your Kombucha May Contain As Much Alcohol As Half A Light Beer
Getty

When there’s meal prep to be done, workouts to be smashed and The Bachelorette eps to be binge-watched, chances are double-checking the alcohol content on that bottle of kombucha you bought this morning isn’t high on the to-do list – if, indeed, it’s on there at all. But do us a favour and beeline to the recycling bin real quick. Coz, new research suggests your fave fermented drink probably contains a lot more alcohol than you think.  

For the study, led by Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services as part of a committee advising Food Standards Australia and New Zealand, 239 samples of kombucha and kefir were collected across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania.

RELATED: Does Kombucha Really Have Health Benefits?

kombucha
Getty

Of the 132 kombuchas tested, nearly 65 per cent contained more than 0.5 per cent alcohol, while over 22 per cent contained more than 1.15 per cent alcohol. In a 350mL bottle (the normal serving size) this is the equivalent of almost one-third of a standard alcoholic drink or approx. half a light beer – potentially enough to push a P-plater over the zero-alcohol limit. (To be clear, drivers on their full licence would have to down a LOT of kombucha very quickly to end up anywhere near a 0.05 reading.)

Here’s where things get sticky: Under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, all bevs containing more than 1.15 per cent alcohol must state this on the label. Plus, in NSW, this would be enough to classify the drink as a "liquor," meaning it falls under the Liquor Act, which prevents it being sold to anyone under the age of 18.

The study’s authors note that shelf-life is a contributing factor (the longer kombucha is left to ferment the more buzz you’ll get from it.) Adding fruit juice, effervescence, sugar and other flavourings may also influence its alcohol content.

kombucha
Getty

"When people think they are buying a soft drink that has no alcohol that is what they should get,” Margaret Allman-Farinelli, Professor of Dietetics at the University of Sydney said of the findings. “With respect to cancer risk, the finding is there is no safe level of alcohol intake. The same applies for damage to the foetus during pregnancy."

The takeaway? Always look at the label before taking a swig and stick to the low-alcohol versions if you like your ‘buch to be as good for your guts as possible.  

PSA: Kombucha is just as bad for your teeth as soft drink. Watch below to see what damage it can do...

  • News
  • Health
  • Food
  • Nutrition
Lucy Bode
Lucy Bode
Lucy is Women Health’s digital editor, social media specialist and the go-to girl for all things holistic wellness. Her background as a journalist and passion for food, fitness and integrative medicine has led her to write for some of Australia’s leading publications over the course of her career.

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Recommended to you

This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack
Watch 0:23

This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack

{headline}

{headline}

The Bachelor's Bekah Martinez Reveals The 5 Foods That Cleared Her Adult Acne

The Bachelor's Bekah Martinez Reveals The 5 Foods That Cleared Her Adult Acne

Gut Health Foods: A Nutritionist Reveals How Much Is Too Much

Gut Health Foods: A Nutritionist Reveals How Much Is Too Much

Everything You Need To Know About Sauerkraut And Its Health Benefits

Everything You Need To Know About Sauerkraut And Its Health Benefits

Science Confirms You Suffer Way Worse Hangovers In Your 30s

Science Confirms You Suffer Way Worse Hangovers In Your 30s

{headline}

{headline}

12 Surprising Things Things That Are Ruining Your Teeth

12 Surprising Things Things That Are Ruining Your Teeth

Study Finds Cooked Veggies Are Better For Your Gut Health Than Eating Them Raw

Study Finds Cooked Veggies Are Better For Your Gut Health Than Eating Them Raw

Everything You Need To Know About The Lectin-Free Diet

Everything You Need To Know About The Lectin-Free Diet

{headline}

{headline}

What To Eat (And Drink) When You Come Down With The Flu

What To Eat (And Drink) When You Come Down With The Flu

What Is Kefir And What Are Its Health Benefits?

What Is Kefir And What Are Its Health Benefits?

4 Things That Could Be Causing Your Gut Issues

4 Things That Could Be Causing Your Gut Issues

Research Just Linked Poor Gut Health To The Spread Of This Cancer

Research Just Linked Poor Gut Health To The Spread Of This Cancer

PSA: Kombucha Is Just As Bad For Your Teeth As Soft Drink

PSA: Kombucha Is Just As Bad For Your Teeth As Soft Drink

So, How Much Farting is Normal *Really?*

So, How Much Farting is Normal *Really?*

These Are The Best Foods For Gut Health

These Are The Best Foods For Gut Health

WomensHealth
  • Contact Us
  • About Paragon Media
  • Contact Paragon Media
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • Contact Us
  • About Paragon Media
  • Contact Paragon Media
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement

Brands

Our Network

  • Paragon Media Pty Ltd
  • Men’s Health
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe Now-

Shop This Offer
Subscribe Now