Can I drink apple cider while pregnant?
Fresh US-style sweet apple cider is unfermented juice and has no alcohol, but it must be pasteurised or otherwise treated because untreated juice carries food-safety risks in pregnancy. Hard cider is alcoholic; UK NHS advice is that the safest approach in pregnancy is not to drink alcohol at all. The text cites guidance only and is not personal medical advice.
Updated
Key facts
- Name check. US “apple cider” may mean juice; “hard cider” means alcohol. Is apple cider fermented.
- Alcohol. NHS: safest approach in pregnancy is not to drink alcohol. [1]
- Juice safety. Untreated juice can pose serious risks in pregnancy; FDA advises choosing pasteurised or treated juice and avoiding untreated juice sold by the glass. Soft naming: is homemade cider safe. [2]
How do hard and sweet cider differ in pregnancy?
Hard cider contains alcohol at everyday cider strengths. UK NHS guidance states that the safest approach is not to drink alcohol in pregnancy. For wider UK pregnancy food advice (dairy, cheeses, etc.), see NHS foods to avoid — that page does not specifically list juice; use FDA for untreated juice. [3] Sweet cider that is truly unfermented juice has no alcohol but must be handled as juice from a food-safety perspective. BJCP style guidelines give typical hard-cider strength bands. [4] FDA’s moms-to-be juice page covers the same pasteurised-versus-untreated choice. [5]
Limits of this guidance
It does not calculate “safe units,” recommend drinking, or replace midwife or doctor advice. If you have already drunk alcohol, NHS and CDC pages discuss what to do next — speak to a health professional. [6]
How do I tell juice from hard cider on a US shelf?
Check the ABV line. Sweet cider / apple cider sold as juice should not list alcohol; hard cider will. [7] If you are unsure, treat the bottle as alcoholic until proven otherwise and ask a pharmacist or clinician about your situation. Related naming: what sweet cider is. Guide: what is cider.
Related answers: what sweet cider is · is apple cider fermented
Related on Cider Radar
Cider, perry, calvados and pommeau are alcoholic drinks. Enjoy responsibly and follow the legal drinking age where you live.
We don't give health advice. For questions about your health, talk to a doctor or pharmacist.
Questions
Is grocery “apple cider” safe in pregnancy?
If it is pasteurised sweet cider (juice), alcohol is not the issue; follow FDA juice-safety guidance and your clinician. Untreated juice has separate risks. Hard cider is alcohol — NHS advises avoiding alcohol in pregnancy. [1]
What about mulled cider?
Mulled hard cider remains alcoholic unless it was made from juice only. Confirm the base bottle: is mulled cider alcoholic.
Sources
- Drinking alcohol while pregnant — NHS
- What You Need to Know About Juice Safety — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Foods to avoid in pregnancy — NHS
- 2025 BJCP Cider Style Guidelines: C1A Common Cider — BJCP
- Fruits, Veggies and Juices — Food Safety for Moms-to-Be — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- About Alcohol Use During Pregnancy — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- cider (definition) — Cambridge Dictionary