Alcohol-Free Beer

Many larger beer producers often offer alcohol-free beer or malt beer, which is primarily aimed at certain groups who want or need to avoid alcohol. The first question that arises here is whether these drinks are really completely free of alcohol or whether they still contain small traces of alcohol.

Non-alcoholic beer can be produced using various production methods. The most common two methods are performed as follows:

1 - In the beginning, normal, alcoholic beer is brewed through the fermentation process. Afterwards, the alcohol contained is either evaporated by a heat process or extracted from the drink under vacuum.

2- During fermentation, a so-called fermentation stop is initiated, which interrupts the fermentation process before the alcohol content of 0.5% by volume is reached

However, due to the technology, a small residue of the alcohol remains in the drink. According to German food law (Article 47 of the Wine Ordinance, Art. 3), such drinks may be declared "non-alcoholic" as long as the alcohol content is less than 0.5 percent by volume. Only those beverages and foods that are completely alcohol-free may bear the "alcohol-free" declaration.

 

Is Drinking Non-Alcoholic Beer Allowed? 

In view of the fact that alcohol-free beer still contains traces of alcohol, but these do not lead to intoxication, the question now arises as to whether the consumption of such a drink is still permitted from an Islamic point of view.

According to some assessments, such a drink is classified as "impure" (najis) because the original drink, wine, was impure and continues to be impure as it does not become pure through the withdrawal of alcohol. According to this, only a malt drink that has never undergone the fermentation process can be halal.

Another problem is that such non-alcoholic beer can cement the desire for other alcoholic beverages or beer after a while. Even if the consumption of non-alcoholic beer is allowed, it is to the advantage of every Muslim consumer to avoid dubious foods and resort to alternative beverages.

 

 

Reference

• Simsek Harun: Alkol Iceren Yiyecek ve Icecekler
• Özoguz Yavuz: Halal-Speise im deutschsprachigen Raum
• "Alkoholfrei" oder "ohne Alkohol"?