‘Low carb’, ‘gluten-free’, with collagen or electrolytes: is it really possible for alcohol to be healthy?

Premixed drinks are ultra-processed products but their marketing claims create a ‘health halo’ that takes the focus away from the harms of alcohol, researchers say

Premixed alcoholic drinks are not known for their health benefits.

But that hasn’t stopped a boom in products being marketed with “better for you” claims designed to appeal to younger, more health-conscious drinkers.

Labels such as “low sugar”, “gluten-free” and “low carb” are being used in advertising to promote the products, and social media influencers https://www.tiktok.com/search?q=low%20sugar%20seltzer&t=1787018110397">spruik the products under the hashtag #healthydrinking.

Melissa Davey is Guardian Australia’s medical editor

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/series/antiviral">Antiviral is a fortnightly column that interrogates the evidence behind the health headlines and factchecks popular wellness claims