Let's start by saying that no one should force you to consume something you don't want, and that if you consider that even 0.5% alcohol can create a problem for you, it's better not to try it. This article is for those who want to demystify the idea that 0.5% alcohol can cause harm or that 0.5% is not 0.0% and therefore cannot be called alcohol-free.

One of the most important things to highlight in this article due to the geographical region to which we extend is that in Mexico and the United States the regulations regarding the labeling and declaration of the % of alcohol contained in a food or drink are not the same. and we'll go from there for this article. In the US, any drink that contains more than 0.5% alcohol is considered an alcoholic beverage (not necessarily an alcoholic beverage prohibited to minors), however in Mexico the tolerance for alcohol declaration begins at 2%. and that is why you will see that many products from the United States will include a legend that says that they can contain up to 0.5% alcohol, and yet in the United States this level at the commercial level is considered null. It is only a notification that is required by law.

That said, let's get into the important topic, the world of non-alcoholic drinks seems to be full of myths that sometimes make us question how alcohol-free they really are. Have you ever heard that a beer or wine with less than 0.5% alcohol can make you drunk or cause you to “relapse”? Let's address this myth with science.

1. Is 0.5% alcohol really intoxicating?

The truth is that a beer or wine with less than 0.5% alcohol per serving does not have the potential to make you dizzy. In fact, you would need to drink an astronomical amount, such as 16 non-alcoholic beers (in women) and 20 (in men), to feel an effect similar to that of a single alcoholic beer.

2. Surprising sources of alcohol that you may have never thought about

Beyond drinks, there are other products with minimum levels of alcohol that you may not have even considered. Did you know that fruits like bananas and oranges contain amounts greater than 0.5% naturally? Most fresh juices (unpasteurized) from highly caloric fruits such as grapes, pineapple, orange, or oplkal begin their fermentation process within a few hours after squeezing them, which converts the sugars into alcohol.

• A French loaf has 1.3 g

• Rye bread .03%

• A very ripe banana has .05

3. Mouthwashes, food flavorings and some herbal medicines are based on alcohol content

Alcohol is a great ally in many things in our lives, from the preservation of food and herbs in the preparation of medicinal tinctures or flavor extracts for baking, to the astringent effect that “kills bacteria” although we know that most People today use alcohol mouthwash less. The truth is that the amount ingested in these products is minimal and for the most part considered safe on a medical level, so don't worry it shouldn't affect your state of sobriety.

4. What other unquestioned products contain alcohol?

Did you know that many bakery products, some fresh products, not necessarily juices, that due to their natural process go through a fermentation process, fermentation is the result of the transformation of sugars through different chemical processes, so if you like bread Natural or chemical yeast, kombuchas, kefirs, ginger sodas all contain a minimum degree of alcohol.

• Fruit Juice - 0–0.09%

• Low alcohol beer - 0.05–1.2%

• Kvass (Sweden) - 0.05–1.5%

• Kefir (Eastern Europe) - 0.2–2.0%

• Kombucha – 0.5–1.5%

• Beer - 2.0–12%

• Cider - 2.0–12%

• Wine – 5.5–16% (commonly 12.5–14.5%)

• Spirits - 15–55% (and even more)

5. The breathalyzer and other measuring devices

Alcohol consumption measuring devices have the capacity to detect from .1 degrees/liter of alcohol in the blood, this volume obviously depends on your size and the amount of blood circulating through your body (8%). Normally, in countries, a blood alcohol level of .3 degrees/liter is allowed for those who drive and .4 for those who are not causing moral breaches. However, to reach this number you would have to understand the consumption, which is calculated something like this: Of 100% of the alcohol consumed, the amount of alcohol that passes into the blood is 15%. The rest evaporates in the breath and is distributed throughout the body's internal organs. So if your concern about not drinking is related to caution, it is important to understand that a single % regular beer is enough to reach the government's acceptable blood alcohol minimums.

For example: A beer has a volume of 0.33 liters and 5% alcohol . The weight of the drinker is 70 kg. Your blood alcohol content after drinking a beer will be: 0.44 grams per liter, a beer with alcohol will be detected in a breathalyzer.

If we do the same exercise with a 0.5% .33 liter beer in a 70 kg person, the total transferred to the blood would be 0.04 grams/liter.

We leave you the formula with .5% of a 330 ml can if you want to make it for yourself with your favorite drinks.

1. Volume of the drink * percentage of alcohol of the drink in grams
   (330 * .005)= 1.65 grams of alcohol

2. Actual transfer to blood = 15%. We multiply the degree of alcohol by the % that is transferred
   (1.65 * .15) = .2475 grams

3. Person's weight (70 kg) per available percentage of blood 8%
   (70 * .08) = 5.6 liter

4. Amount of alcohol transferred to the blood between the number of liters available
   (.2475/5.6)= 0.044 grams/liter

In short, while some products contain trace amounts of alcohol, it is important to understand that the traces present will not make you dizzy or affect your sobriety. So enjoy your non-alcoholic beer or wine without worries!

References:

Blood alcohol levels

Alcohol levels per drink

Hidden alcohol percentages