International Beer Day
International Beer Day is a celebration on the first Friday of every August founded in 2007 in Santa Cruz, California by Jesse Avshalomov. International Beer Day has grown from a small localized event in the western United States into a worldwide celebration spanning more than 200 cities, 80 countries and 6 continents. Participants are encouraged to give one another the ‘gift of beer’ by buying each other drinks, and to express gratitude to brewers, bartenders, and other beer technicians.
International Beer Day began as a celebration at the founders’ local bar, but has since expanded to become a worldwide event. Celebrations are planned throughout the United States as well as in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, Finland, France, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and many more.
The purposes of International Beer Day:
1. Gather with friends and enjoy the taste of beer.
2. Celebrate those responsible for brewing and serving beer.
3. Unite the world under the banner of beer, by celebrating the beers of all nations together on a single day.
International Beer Day Dates:
| Date | First Friday in August |
|---|---|
| 2019 date | August 2 |
| 2020 date | August 7 |
| 2021 date | August 6 |
| 2022 date | August 5 |
The health benefits of beer
1. Beer can help protect your heart
Moderate beer drinking* may make you less likely than those who don’t drink to suffer from hearts attacks, strokes or heart disease. In fact, studies evaluating the relative benefits of wine versus beer versus spirits suggest that moderate consumption of any alcoholic beverage is associated with lower rates of cardiovascular disease.
(New England Journal of Medicine)
2. Beer helps prevent kidney stones
Drinking beer could help reduce your risk of developing kidney stones. According to a recent study, men and women who reported drinking a moderate amount* of beer reduced their risk of developing a stone by 41 percent.
(Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology)
3. May improve blood sugar control
Light to moderate alcohol intake may improve blood sugar control, an issue for many people with diabetes.
Several studies have found that light to moderate alcohol intake appears to reduce insulin resistance — a risk factor for diabetes — as well as the overall risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
4. Beer lowers bad cholesterol
The soluble fiber in beer can help reduce your LDL or bad cholesterol. Increasing your intake of soluble fiber has numerous health benefits, including the promotion of healthy blood-sugar and blood-cholesterol levels. However, because alcohol interferes with the body’s ability to absorb vitamins and minerals, it can also lessen the body’s ability to burn stored fat.
(American Heart Association: Circulation)
** The health benefits of drinking beer are mixed. Though drinking small amounts may be associated with benefits, the beverage is also associated with many harmful side effects.
