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Live lighter, be cautious of beer intake

By Georgia Tacey

Jun 9, 2023

Live lighter: Beer drinkers are being warned that some beers contain more energy than common junk foods. Photo by AAP

Cancer Council Victoria’s LiveLighter program is urging people to be mindful of their beer intake ahead of Men’s Health Week after new analysis revealed that a couple of bottles of full-strength beer could pack more energy than a burger from McDonald’s.

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The LiveLighter analysis compared the kilojoule content of 75 packed beer products with select junk foods, finding that two 355ml bottles of Corona Extra contained more kilojoules than a McDonald’s cheeseburger.

LiveLighter Victoria campaign manager Sherly Li said people could easily consume lots of kilojoules without realising it.

“Having a couple of beers at home or in a social setting can drastically increase energy intake while adding little to no nutrients to our diet,” she said.

“These empty kilojoules can lead to excess weight, increasing the risk of 13 types of cancer, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.”

The single beer with the highest number of kilojoules analysed was Sheaf Stout, containing 839 kilojoules in a single 375ml bottle, equating to more than a soft serve with a flake from McDonald’s.

Ms Li said part of the problem was that manufacturers in Australia were currently not required to place energy kilojoules on alcohol product labels.

“Despite what clever marketing might lead you to believe, it’s actually the alcohol — not sugar or carbs — that makes beer so high in kilojoules,” she said.

“To maintain a healthy weight, we suggest you limit your beer intake and opt for products with a lower alcohol content.”