If you’ve ever been on a diet, you’ll know that alcohol rarely features in the menu plans. This is not to say that you can’t have the occasional drink whilst losing weight, just that drinking makes weight loss more difficult. Flavour-wise, it’s a slightly harsh bitterness that hits your tastebuds first and hangs around until well after the sip. There’s none of the sweetness from the aroma, which could have worked nicely with the bitterness.

Sure, it’s not the best alcohol-free lager out there. But it’s a decent option when you’re not drinking alcohol, especially since it’s available in so many pubs and bars. Some drinkers like the crispness and maltiness of the beer’s taste, but many complain of excess bitterness and a harsh, “overcooked” flavor. If you have diabetes, and are on insulin or medication that can cause hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose or ‘hypos’), you should be aware that alcohol makes hypos more likely as it stops the release of glucose from your liver, something your liver would normally be doing 24 hours a day. Alcohol can also cause delayed hypos. How clued up are you about alcohol and diabetes? Yes, but it wouldn’t be my first choice if there were other options, especially when there are so many tasty non-alcoholic beers these days.According to NHS England, the average wine drinker consumes 2,000 calories from alcohol every month, and the average beer drinker - drinking 5 pints of lager a week - takes 44,200 calories a year, the equivalent of 221 doughnuts. Any sweetness eludes me, and I have a hunch the hop bitterness would be at least moderately strong on the palate.

This leaves a beer with only trace amounts of alcohol if any – up to 0.05%. This is less than what occurs naturally in many types of food.On the contrary, the hop bitterness is rather subdued – initially, at least. The hop bitterness gets stronger and lingers after each finish. It also reduces your willpower - you are less likely to go for the healthier option when out for a meal, cooking a meal, or raiding the fridge at home. Summer drinking Read on for some useful tips to keep the calories and alcohol down this summer:

This all happened around 2003. And that was still a decade after the Bremen-based brewery created this alcohol-free pilsner-style lager in 1993. Contrary to press reports that we should all drink some alcohol for health reasons - who hasn’t read an article claiming red wine is good for your heart? – the evidence simply doesn’t support this. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that it’s possible the alcohol content could be higher because labelling rules vary between regions and some countries like the UK allow a small tolerance to what’s shown on the label.It’s slightly syrupy but the body isn’t too bad. It’s highly carbonated but the foam gives it a creamy – dare I say luxurious – feel as it slips down your throat.

Alternate with soft drinks. Shop around if you’re getting fed up with the usual diet soft drinks. There are so many different flavours available including diet pink lemonade, diet cherry cola, diet traditional lemonade and diet pink cranberry lemonade. If you are going to friends for a BBQ this summer bring your own as people often have only the ‘full fat’ variety of colas and lemonade!The lager is described as dry with a hoppy finish and golden in color. Additionally, some report that the body is watery or overly carbonated. Yes, it is not going to blow your mind, but it does what it’s suppose to do – be a clean, refreshing, cheap non-alcoholic lager that you can easily find. Not only does alcohol contain lots of calories (these are basically ‘empty’ calories, with no nutritional value), but it also stops your body burning fat as all its attention is turned to burning off the alcohol. Just like using smaller plates can help you to eat less food, using smaller wine and beer glasses can help you drink less - try it, it really does work! Make a long drink with a shot of spirits such as vodka or rum and use plenty of a mixer such as diet lemonade, diet ginger ale, diet cola or water. Top with plenty of ice.