Is cider good for you?

Cider is an alcoholic drink, and health bodies do not treat alcohol as good for you. WHO/Europe says no level of alcohol consumption is safe for health, and the NHS advises adults not to drink more than 14 units a week regularly. Cider also contains sugar and calories. If you have health questions, ask a doctor.

Updated 2026-10-02

What health bodies say

WHO/Europe: "No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health." [1]
WHO fact sheet: alcohol (ethanol) is "a psychoactive and toxic substance", plays "a causal role in more than 200 diseases, injuries and other health conditions", and is "an established carcinogen". [2]
NHS (UK): men and women are advised "not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis", spread over 3 or more days if you regularly drink as much as 14 units. [3] The NHS also says regularly drinking more than 14 units a week "risks damaging your health". [4]

Is there anything healthy in cider?

Cider is made from fermented apple or pear juice, but that does not make it a health drink. US nutrition data for hard cider list 56 kcal, 5.92 g of sugars and 4.0 g of alcohol per 100 g. [5] The figures depend on the cider: dry ciders usually contain less sugar than sweet ones, as explained in does dry cider have less sugar. The cider glossary entry for dry explains the term.

You may read online that cider contains antioxidants from apples. Claims like that do not appear on cider labels in the EU or the UK for a reason: Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 says drinks with more than 1.2% alcohol "shall not bear health claims". [6] [7]

How can I check what I'm drinking?

Alcohol. Check the ABV and the serving size, then work out the units; see how many units are in cider. The guide on how strong cider is gives typical strengths.
Calories and sugar. In the EU and the UK, drinks over 1.2% do not have to show a nutrition declaration, so the label may not tell you. [8] [9] Typical values are in how many calories are in cider.
Driving. Alcohol affects driving, and the legal limits differ by country; see cider and drink driving.

Related answers: how many units are in cider · how many calories are in cider

Find it on Cider Radar

Guide: how strong is cider? · Guide: what is cider?

Dates in this answer were checked on 2 October 2026 and are due for review by October 2027.

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 cider healthier than beer or wine?

Health bodies judge alcohol by the amount of alcohol, not by the type of drink. The NHS low-risk guideline is counted in units, which depend on strength and volume, whatever the drink. [3] See how many units are in cider.

Can cider labels make health claims?

Not in the EU or the UK. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, drinks with more than 1.2% alcohol by volume may not bear health claims. [6] [7]

Is alcohol-free cider good for you?

It removes the alcohol but not necessarily the sugar. In England, drinks of 1.2% ABV or below must carry ingredients and nutrition information, so check the label. [10] More in what is alcohol-free cider.