Is Hard Seltzer Hydrating?

There is absolutely no doubt how tasty and appealing hard seltzers are. While being a great low carb and lighter choice for recreational drinking, some of the internet health claims are a bit comical. A common one is that hard seltzers, like White Claw and Truly, are a hydrating drink. Unfortunately, they are not. Yes, White Claw’s and other hard seltzers are really tasty, but keeping you hydrated is simply not true.

The Hard Facts

In 2015, a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition stated that seltzer itself is hydrating, but hard seltzer is not. Hard seltzer is not just simple seltzer, it is a two-ingredient cocktail (a combination of seltzer and alcohol) just like vodka soda – and it is often treated as a replacement for Vodka soda. As Rebecca Jennings stated at Vox, “What that alcohol is made out of can differ,” but “usually it’s just fermented cane sugar with added fruit flavors.”

In summary, hard seltzers are a mixture of two things – alcohol and seltzers. The drink is prepared in such a way that it results into a wonderful low-sugar and low-carb product. The alcohol quantity in the drink is even lower than a craft beer (be sure to check out our list of the lowest calorie beers with the most alcohol). The ABV in hard seltzers is about 4 to 5 percent, while this value is 6 percent in craft beer on average.

The bottom line is, it’s totally up to you what kind of drink you want. Either it is beer, hard seltzer, or any other derivative of seltzer, don’t forget to hydrate yourself with regular water if you want to avoid a nasty hangover. Cheers!