Microplastics in Beer and Wine: What Every Drinker Should Know

Your Favorite Drink May Come With a Side of Plastic

For millions of people, a glass of beer or wine is one of life's simple pleasures. Whether it is a cold lager after work, a craft IPA on the weekend, or a glass of red wine with dinner, alcoholic beverages are deeply woven into social life and culture. But an emerging body of scientific research has revealed something unsettling: the beer and wine you drink almost certainly contain microplastics.

A groundbreaking German study analyzed 24 different beer brands and found microplastic particles in every single one of them. Separate research on wine has found similar contamination, with levels varying based on the type of closure, filtration method, and packaging material used. These findings have raised important questions about how plastic particles enter our beverages and what, if anything, drinkers can do to reduce their exposure.

This guide breaks down everything the science tells us about microplastics in alcoholic beverages, from how contamination occurs during production to which choices at the store can help you minimize your intake.

The German Beer Study: Microplastics in Every Brand Tested

The study that first brought widespread attention to microplastics in beer was conducted by researchers at the University of Muenster in Germany and published in the journal Food Additives & Contaminants. The team analyzed 24 German beer brands, including popular pilsners, wheat beers, and lagers, sourced from ten different breweries. Using micro-Raman spectroscopy, they identified and counted microplastic particles in each sample.

The results were striking: every single beer sample contained microplastics. The concentration ranged from 2 to 79 microplastic particles per liter, with an average of approximately 4 particles per liter across all samples. The most commonly identified polymers were polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP) -- the same plastics found in bottles, packaging, and industrial equipment.

A follow-up study conducted by researchers at the State University of New York at Fredonia expanded the scope globally, testing 159 samples of beer from multiple countries. They confirmed the German findings and reported an average of 4.05 particles per liter in beer samples worldwide, with some brands containing significantly higher concentrations. Notably, beers packaged in glass bottles, cans, and plastic bottles all contained microplastics, indicating that the contamination is not solely a packaging issue.

How Microplastics Get Into Beer

Understanding how microplastics end up in your pint glass requires looking at the entire brewing process, from raw ingredients to the final pour. There are multiple entry points, and most of them have nothing to do with the container you drink from.

Water Supply

Beer is approximately 90 to 95 percent water, making the water supply the single largest potential source of microplastic contamination. Municipal tap water has been found to contain an average of 5.45 microplastic particles per liter in studies conducted across multiple countries. Even when breweries use filtration systems, not all filters are capable of removing particles smaller than 10 micrometers, and nanoplastics can pass through most conventional filtration systems entirely. For a deeper dive into water contamination, see our guide on microplastics in tap water.

Filtration Equipment

Ironically, the filtration process itself can introduce microplastics into beer. Many breweries use diatomaceous earth filters or synthetic polymer-based filter sheets to clarify their products. These filters can shed tiny plastic fibers and fragments directly into the beer as it passes through. Cross-flow membrane filtration systems, which use polymer membranes, are another potential source. Research has found that the type and age of filtration media used by a brewery can significantly impact the final microplastic count in the finished product.

Raw Ingredients

Barley, hops, and yeast can all carry microplastic contamination from agricultural environments. Crops grown in fields treated with sewage sludge (biosolids) as fertilizer have been shown to absorb microplastics from the soil. Plastic mulch films used in hop farming can degrade and fragment, leaving microplastic residues on the crop. While the malting and boiling stages of brewing may remove some larger particles, smaller fragments and fibers can persist through the entire process.

Packaging and Distribution

The final packaging step introduces additional contamination risk. Plastic-lined bottle caps, synthetic gaskets in canning equipment, and plastic kegs all have the potential to shed microplastics into the beverage. Even glass bottles are not immune, as the plastic seals and liners in crown caps can release particles over time, especially under the slight pressure of carbonated beer.

Microplastics in Wine: Cork vs Screw Cap and Beyond

Wine has received less research attention than beer, but the studies that do exist have found comparable levels of contamination. A 2022 study published in Science of the Total Environment analyzed wines from multiple European producers and detected microplastic particles in every sample tested, with concentrations ranging from 2.1 to 8.3 particles per liter.

The Cork vs Screw Cap Debate

One of the more interesting findings in wine research relates to closures. Natural cork closures, which have been used for centuries, do not introduce significant microplastic contamination. They are made from the bark of cork oak trees and contain no synthetic polymers. Screw caps, on the other hand, contain a plastic or composite liner that seals against the bottle rim. Studies have found that wines sealed with screw caps tend to have slightly higher microplastic levels than those sealed with natural cork, likely due to degradation of the plastic liner over time.

Synthetic cork closures, which are made entirely from plastic polymers, present the highest closure-related risk. These closures can shed microplastic particles into the wine, particularly during insertion and removal. If minimizing microplastic exposure is a priority, wines sealed with natural cork are the preferable option.

Wine Production and Filtration

Similar to beer, the winemaking process itself introduces microplastics at multiple stages. Wine is commonly stored and fermented in stainless steel tanks lined with epoxy coatings, or in plastic tanks and containers. The fining and filtration process, which clarifies the wine and removes sediment, often uses synthetic materials. Bentonite clay fining is generally plastic-free, but some producers use polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP), a synthetic polymer, to reduce bitterness and astringency. This polymer can leave trace residues in the final product.

Wines that undergo minimal filtration, such as many natural and biodynamic wines, may actually contain fewer processing-related microplastics, though they may carry higher levels of particles from the vineyard environment itself. Unfiltered wines represent a trade-off that has not yet been fully studied.

Contamination Levels: How Alcoholic Beverages Compare

When comparing microplastic levels across different alcoholic beverages, the data reveals some notable differences. Based on published research, here is how common drinks stack up:

• Beer: Average of 4 to 5 particles per liter, with some samples reaching up to 79 particles per liter. Glass-bottled, canned, and draft beer all show contamination, with draft beer from kegs sometimes showing slightly lower levels.
• Wine: Average of 2 to 8 particles per liter, varying based on closure type, filtration method, and packaging. Red wines and white wines show similar levels, though individual bottles can vary considerably.
• Spirits: Limited research exists, but preliminary studies suggest that distilled spirits may contain fewer microplastics than beer or wine. The distillation process, which involves vaporizing and recondensing the alcohol, may leave behind many solid contaminants including microplastics. However, contamination can still occur during post-distillation storage and bottling.
• Cider: Studies have found microplastic levels in cider comparable to or slightly lower than beer, averaging around 3 to 4 particles per liter. Like wine, the closure type and filtration method play a significant role.

For context, the average person who drinks two beers per day would ingest approximately 3,000 to 4,000 additional microplastic particles per year from beer alone. While this is a relatively small fraction of the estimated 74,000 to 121,000 particles ingested annually from all dietary sources, it is an avoidable source that can be reduced with informed choices.

Glass vs Can vs Plastic Bottle: Does Packaging Matter?

Many consumers assume that choosing glass over plastic automatically means fewer microplastics. The reality is more nuanced than that.

Glass Bottles

Glass itself does not shed microplastics, making it the safest container material. However, the crown cap or closure still contains plastic liners, and beer or wine stored in glass still carries whatever contamination was introduced during production. Glass bottles do have the advantage of not adding to the microplastic load after packaging, which gives them an edge over the alternatives.

Aluminum Cans

Aluminum cans are lined with a thin layer of epoxy resin, which often contains bisphenol A (BPA) or its substitutes. While the primary concern with cans is chemical leaching rather than microplastic shedding, the epoxy lining can degrade over time and release micro-particles. Studies have found that canned beverages contain slightly higher levels of certain plastic- associated chemicals than their glass-bottled counterparts, though the microplastic particle count difference is not dramatic.

Plastic Bottles

Beer and wine sold in PET plastic bottles consistently show the highest microplastic levels. Research on microplastics in bottled water has demonstrated that PET bottles can shed thousands of particles per liter, and the same principle applies to alcoholic beverages stored in plastic. Heat exposure during transport and storage accelerates this shedding. If you have the option, avoiding plastic-bottled alcohol is one of the simplest ways to reduce your exposure.

Craft Beer vs Mass-Produced: Is There a Difference?

The question of whether craft beer is cleaner than mass-produced beer does not have a simple answer, but there are factors that may work in craft beer's favor.

Large-scale commercial breweries process enormous volumes of beer through extensive industrial filtration systems. These systems use synthetic filter media that can introduce microplastics at scale. The beer may also travel through long networks of plastic tubing and be stored in large plastic-lined tanks before packaging.

Craft breweries, particularly smaller operations, often use shorter production chains with less equipment contact. Some craft brewers deliberately produce unfiltered or lightly filtered beers, which may reduce filtration-related microplastic introduction. However, craft breweries may also use less sophisticated water treatment, and their smaller scale does not guarantee lower contamination. The limited research comparing the two suggests that unfiltered craft beers may contain fewer processing-derived microplastics, but the difference is not yet well quantified.

Draft beer served directly from kegs in bars and restaurants may also have an advantage over bottled beer, as the stainless steel kegs and dispensing systems introduce fewer plastic contact points than bottling lines. However, plastic beer lines connecting kegs to taps are standard in most establishments, and these lines are replaced infrequently, potentially shedding microplastics into every pour.

Tips for Reducing Microplastic Exposure From Alcohol

While you cannot eliminate microplastic exposure from alcoholic beverages entirely, the following strategies can help you minimize it:

1. Choose glass bottles over cans and plastic. Glass does not shed microplastics. While the contents may still contain particles from production, you avoid the additional contamination from plastic packaging.
2. Opt for natural cork closures in wine. If you are choosing between two similar wines, the one with a natural cork closure is likely to have fewer microplastics than one with a screw cap or synthetic cork.
3. Consider unfiltered beers and wines. Products that skip heavy filtration may avoid the microplastics introduced by synthetic filter media. Look for labels that say “unfiltered,” “bottle-conditioned,” or “naturally cloudy.”
4. Store alcohol properly. Keep bottles and cans away from heat and direct sunlight. High temperatures accelerate the breakdown of plastic liners and closures, increasing microplastic release into the beverage.
5. Avoid plastic cups and stirrers. When drinking at home or at events, use glass, ceramic, or stainless steel drinkware instead of plastic cups. Plastic straws, stirrers, and disposable cups add directly to your microplastic intake.
6. Moderate your consumption. Beyond the well-known health benefits of moderate drinking, reducing the volume of alcohol you consume directly reduces the number of microplastic particles you ingest from this source.
7. Support breweries and wineries that prioritize clean production. As awareness grows, some producers are beginning to invest in microplastic-free filtration systems and non-plastic production equipment. Supporting these producers sends a market signal that consumers care about this issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many microplastics are in a typical beer?

Research has found an average of approximately 4 to 5 microplastic particles per liter of beer. A standard 12-ounce (355 ml) serving would contain roughly 1 to 2 particles on average, though individual beers can vary significantly. Some samples in the German study contained up to 79 particles per liter, which would mean approximately 28 particles in a single liter bottle.

Is wine safer than beer when it comes to microplastics?

Wine and beer show similar contamination levels, typically ranging from 2 to 8 particles per liter. Neither is dramatically safer than the other. The closure type and production method matter more than the beverage category. Wine with natural cork closures may have a slight advantage over canned beer or beer with plastic-lined caps, but the differences are modest.

Do microplastics in alcohol pose a health risk?

The health effects of ingesting microplastics at the levels found in alcoholic beverages are still being studied. The quantities from alcohol alone are relatively small compared to total dietary exposure. However, microplastics can carry harmful chemicals such as phthalates, BPA, and heavy metals, and they contribute to your cumulative body burden. Reducing exposure from all sources, including alcohol, is a prudent approach based on the precautionary principle. For more on health impacts, see our article on microplastic health effects.

Does the brewing or distillation process remove microplastics?

Distillation is more effective than brewing at reducing microplastics because it involves vaporizing the liquid and recondensing it, which can leave solid particles behind. Brewing does not include this step, so microplastics present in the water and ingredients tend to remain in the final product. Filtration during brewing can both remove and introduce microplastics depending on the filter materials used.

Are organic or natural wines better for avoiding microplastics?

Organic certification primarily addresses pesticide and chemical use, not microplastic contamination. However, natural and biodynamic wines that use minimal filtration and avoid synthetic fining agents like PVPP may contain fewer processing-related microplastics. The trade-off is that they may contain more environmental particles from the vineyard. The research on this specific question is still limited.

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• Microplastics in Food: Which Foods Contain the Most?
• Microplastics in Bottled Water: Why You Should Switch to Filtered Tap
• Microplastics in Tap Water: Is Your Drinking Water Safe?
• The Health Effects of Microplastics: What Science Says