Which has more sugar, coke or beer?

October 5, 2025 •

4 min read

A standard 12-ounce can of Coca-Cola contains nearly 40 grams of sugar, a striking contrast to the fact that most regular beers contain virtually no sugar after the fermentation process. This makes answering the question, which has more sugar, coke or beer?, surprisingly straightforward and reveals key differences in their nutritional makeup.

Quick Summary

Coca-Cola is packed with sugar, while most fermented beer has very little, but the health comparison is more complex. Beer's calories come from alcohol and carbohydrates, affecting blood sugar differently and carrying their own risks, unlike soda's simple sugar calories.

Key Points

Coke's High Sugar Content: A 12-ounce can of Coca-Cola contains approximately 39 grams of added sugar, equating to about 10 teaspoons.
Beer's Low Sugar: Most regular fermented beers have a minimal sugar content, often less than 1 gram per serving, because the yeast converts most of the sugar into alcohol.
Different Calorie Sources: Coke's calories come from sugar, while beer's calories come from both alcohol and carbohydrates.
Non-Alcoholic Beer Exception: Non-alcoholic beer can contain significantly more sugar than its regular counterpart because the fermentation process is altered.
Unique Health Risks: Excessive sugar from soda is linked to obesity, diabetes, and fatty liver disease, while excessive alcohol from beer is linked to liver damage and addiction.
Moderation is Key: Both beverages are high in calories and low in nutritional value; the best approach for a healthy diet is to limit consumption of both.
No Health Benefits: Neither soda nor beer should be considered a health food, and water remains the superior choice for hydration.

The Simple Answer: Coke Has Far More Sugar

When comparing a standard can of Coca-Cola to a regular beer, the answer is definitive: Coke contains significantly more sugar. A typical 12-ounce can of Coca-Cola has about 39 grams of added sugar, which is the equivalent of nearly 10 teaspoons. In contrast, the brewing process for most beers is designed to convert sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide, leaving very little residual sugar in the final product. Regular beers can often have less than one gram of sugar per serving, making the difference astonishingly large.

Understanding Beer's Low Sugar Content

The brewing process is key to explaining why most beer has such a low sugar content. The sugar, which is initially present in the malted grains, is a necessary component for fermentation. Here is how it works:

Malting: Grains like barley or wheat are germinated to convert starches into fermentable sugars, primarily maltose.
Mashing: The malted grains are soaked in hot water to create a sweet liquid called wort.
Fermentation: Yeast is introduced to the wort, which then consumes the fermentable sugars and produces alcohol and carbon dioxide as byproducts.

Because the yeast is highly efficient at converting these sugars, the final beer has a very different nutritional profile than the initial sugary wort. However, some types of beer can have higher sugar content:

Non-alcoholic beers: Since the fermentation process is intentionally cut short or a different process is used to remove alcohol, more of the original sugar remains. This is why non-alcoholic beer often has a significantly higher sugar content than its alcoholic counterpart, with some brands containing over 28 grams of sugar per 12 ounces.
Specialty beers: Certain styles, such as milk stouts, use ingredients like lactose (a non-fermentable sugar), resulting in a sweeter, higher-sugar profile.

The High Sugar Reality of Coca-Cola

Soft drinks like Coke derive their sweetness from sugar (often high-fructose corn syrup) and contain no nutritional benefits. The high concentration of sugar means a rapid spike in blood sugar levels after consumption. The body is not built to process such a large, concentrated dose of liquid sugar, which is linked to several negative health outcomes.

The Problem with High Added Sugar

Weight Gain: High consumption of sugary drinks is strongly linked to weight gain and obesity, as they provide high calories with low satiety.
Type 2 Diabetes: The constant assault of sugar spikes can lead to insulin resistance over time, increasing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Liver Disease: Excessive sugar intake can overwhelm the liver, leading to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Dental Issues: The combination of sugar and acidity in soda is a major contributor to tooth decay and enamel erosion.

Calorie and Carb Considerations

While sugar is a key difference, it is important to consider the full picture. Both Coke and beer are calorie-dense beverages, but the source of those calories is different. In beer, calories come from both carbohydrates and alcohol, which contains about 7 calories per gram. In Coke, the calories are almost entirely from sugar, a form of carbohydrate.

Caloric Density and Source

Alcohol's Effect: The alcohol in beer is metabolized by the liver, which prioritizes it over other macronutrients. This can slow down the body's ability to burn fat, contributing to weight gain if consumed excessively.
Carbs in Beer: The carbohydrates in beer are not all sugar. Many are complex carbs and non-fermentable oligosaccharides that don't get absorbed and act as prebiotic fibers, feeding gut bacteria. However, these can still contribute to a caloric load and affect blood sugar.

Coke vs. Beer: A Nutritional Comparison Table

Here's a comparison based on a standard 12-ounce (355ml) serving for both a regular Coca-Cola and a typical regular beer.


Nutrient	Regular Coke	Typical Regular Beer
Calories	~140 kcal	~150 kcal
Sugar	~39 g	0-1 g
Total Carbs	~39 g	~13 g
Alcohol	0 g	~14 g (at 5% ABV)
Protein	0 g	Trace amounts
Nutrients	None	Trace minerals, B vitamins

The Verdict: Choosing Your Drink Wisely

So, which is the 'better' choice? From a sugar perspective, beer is the clear winner, with minimal to no sugar. However, health is not determined by a single nutrient. The alcohol in beer carries its own significant health risks, especially with excessive consumption, including liver damage, addiction, and impaired judgment. Soda, with its extremely high sugar content, is a primary contributor to diet-related diseases like diabetes and obesity, offering no nutritional value whatsoever.

Ultimately, both are non-essential beverages that should be consumed in moderation, if at all. Neither should be considered a health food. For hydration, water is always the best choice. If you are going to indulge, understanding the different nutritional trade-offs is crucial for making an informed decision that aligns with your overall dietary goals.

For those looking to reduce sugary drink intake, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers valuable resources and tips on making healthier beverage choices.

Conclusion

In the final analysis, a can of Coca-Cola has substantially more sugar than a can of beer. While beer's calories primarily stem from alcohol and carbohydrates, Coke's are derived almost entirely from sugar, which carries a specific set of negative health consequences. Both are high in calories and should be consumed sparingly as part of a balanced diet. The healthiest course of action is to limit both and opt for water or other unsweetened beverages. The choice between them depends on which set of health risks you prioritize minimizing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fermentation by yeast is highly efficient at converting fermentable sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide. While most sugars are consumed, some non-fermentable sugars can remain, leaving a very small amount of residual sugar in the final product.

Coca-Cola has a much more direct and significant impact on blood sugar due to its high added sugar content and high glycemic index. Beer's effect is more complex; while it contains carbs, the alcohol can interfere with blood sugar regulation in different ways.

The perception of sweetness in beer can come from other factors besides residual sugar. These can include the malted grains themselves, certain hop varieties, and the way the yeast ferments. Styles like milk stouts also use lactose, a sugar that yeast can't ferment, leaving a sweet taste.

Switching from Coke to beer might reduce your sugar intake, but it is not a guaranteed weight loss strategy. Beer still contains a significant number of calories from alcohol and carbohydrates. It is the overall caloric intake that matters most for weight management.

Both can harm the liver, but in different ways. Chronic excessive alcohol consumption from beer can lead to alcoholic liver disease. Excessive sugar from Coke can lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Moderation is key for both to protect liver health.

It depends. While it lacks alcohol, non-alcoholic beer often has a higher sugar content than its regular beer counterpart and is still less nutritious than water. Always check the nutrition label, as some non-alcoholic beers contain significant amounts of sugar.

The best beverage alternatives for health and hydration are water, sparkling water with a splash of fruit juice, unsweetened tea, or coffee. These options avoid the excess sugar, alcohol, and empty calories found in soda and beer.