Beer Can Damage the Liver, Warn Doctors

Craft beer, despite its premium and natural image, can cause significant liver damage if consumed continuously. Regular intake impairs the liver’s ability to regenerate, leading over time to conditions progressing from fatty liver changes to potentially irreversible diseases like cirrhosis. Medical experts caution that craft beer, which often has higher alcohol by volume (ABV) than standard lagers, strains the liver similarly to hard liquor when consumed regularly, especially when paired with high-fat pub foods or painkillers like paracetamol that further increase liver toxicity. Dr. Suresh Raghavaiah , a senior gastroenterology and transplant surgeon, emphasizes that moderate but continuous craft beer consumption can cause fat buildup, inflammation, and alcoholic liver disease without noticeable symptoms until late stages. Unlike episodic binge drinking, this pattern is more insidious, causing cumulative damage. Dr. Sonal Asthana notes that even therapeutic doses of painkillers during alcohol processing elevate liver enzymes, exacerbating long-term harm.

The liver processes alcohol into toxic compounds that cause inflammation and fat accumulation, progressing through stages such as fatty liver disease, alcoholic hepatitis, and ultimately cirrhosis, which is often irreversible. This escalating damage impairs liver function drastically and increases risks such as liver failure or cancer. Studies indicate that alcohol in any form—beer or liquor—has these effects, depending on amount and frequency. Craft beer’s higher alcohol content and some drinking habits make its impact notable .At its alcohol content and regular consumption patterns impose serious stress on liver health, urging awareness and moderation to prevent severe liver disease.