When people imagine a sports drink, they typically think of Gatorade or homemade concoctions consisting of various fruits and vegetables. However, a recent study suggests that drinking beer and exercising are positively correlated. Mike Zamwow, a brew master at a brewery in Wausau, Wisconsin, has used this correlation to start an exercise class in his brewery. The caveat to this association, though, is that one must drink in moderation in order to experience increased fitness.
More research needs to be conducted in order to affirm the relationship between drinking alcohol and exercise, but one study suggested that those who drank more alcohol exercised more vigorously throughout the week. A more indirect, but reputable connection between alcohol consumption is that alcohol serves as a social motivator for those first attempting to exercise. Zamwow has based him latest business venture on this proposition: his brewery has hosted the exercise class “Butts and Beers” since January 2016. After the exercise class is over, participants move to a taproom and socialize while drinking beer2. This socialization can be vital in perpetuating one’s exercise routine. It has been established for a long time that positive peer pressure can be a successful exercise motivator. In addition to the direct positive relationship between drinking beer and exercising, there exists an indirect relationship between the two variables in which encouraging one to continue with an exercise routine (while drinking a beer) may lead to an increased chance at sticking with that exercise routine.
There are ethical concerns with the implication that drinking more alcohol leads to increased fitness. Suggesting that increased alcohol consumption has positive health effects will influence individuals’ behavior and likely cause more binge drinking, even though studies have shown that the positive correlation between drinking alcohol and exercising only exists when the former is done so in moderation.
Although there is not enough evidence to solidify the positive relationship between consuming alcohol and exercising, the current observations are promising. There are two different connections between consuming alcohol and exercising that operate simultaneously, both of which suggest that drinking more alcohol leads to more time spent exercising.
References:
1. French, Michael T., Ioana Popovici, and Johanna Catherine Maclean. "Do Alcohol Consumers Exercise More? Findings From a National Survey." American Journal of Health Promotion 24, no. 1 (2009): 2-10. doi:10.4278/ajhp.0801104.
2. Christensen, Jen. "How to Stick to Fitness Resolution: Drink Beer." CNN. January 6, 2016. Accessed September 29, 2016. http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/06/health/beer-as-an-exercise-motivator/index.html.