Scientists have discovered which type of alcohol is LEAST healthy: people who drink it are most likely to be overweight and lazy

When it comes to wine, the French may be on to something. Because beer drinkers have a poorer diet, smoke more and are lazier than wine and spirits lovers, a study suggests.

According to US researchers who tracked the drinking habits of almost 2,000 adults, even those who drank a combination of alcohol were healthier than pint downers alone.

Beer drinkers were found to have the highest daily calorie intake and the lowest level of physical activity.

This, experts say, puts beer lovers at a higher risk of obesity and its related diseases.

Lead author and internal medicine researcher at Tulane University, Dr. Madeline Novack, said the negative effects of excessive alcohol consumption, including liver disease, can often be worsened by poor nutrition.

In the study, scientists compared the diets of more than 1,900 American alcohol drinkers with the 100-point Healthy Eating Index – an American benchmark for the quality of diet.

Information about the participants’ eating habits was collected through extensive questionnaires.

Just over a third (38.9 percent) consumed only beer, a fifth (21.8 percent) only wine, 18.2 percent only spirits and 21 percent a combination of drinks.

The NHS recommends people drink no more than 14 ‘units’ of alcohol – around six glasses of wine or pints of beer – per week

They found that none of the groups came close to a score indicative of an ‘adequate diet’ – a score above 80.

But wine drinkers scored 55 points, drinkers who drank only spirits and combination drinks earned almost 53 points, while beer drinkers earned the lowest score (49).

Beer drinkers also reported eating the most calories and doing the least amount of exercise.

According to Dr. Novack, they were more likely to be men, young people, smokers and people with low incomes.

However, she suggested that the differences in nutritional quality may be related to the context in which the type of alcohol is consumed.

Wine — especially red wine — is often paired with more balanced meals that include meat, vegetables and dairy products, Dr. Novack said.

In contrast, beer is often chosen in environments where foods are low in fiber and high in carbohydrates and processed meat.

Fried or salted foods, which dehydrate consumers, can also boost beer consumption.

The research will be presented Sunday at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases’ 2024 ‘Liver Meeting’ in San Diego.

Leading experts have been rowing about the harms of moderate alcohol consumption for decades.

It came into the spotlight last year when WHO officials warned that no amount of alcohol is safe.

The NHS recommends people drink no more than fourteen ‘units’ of alcohol – around six glasses of wine or pints of beer – per week.

This has been diluted in recent decades in light of studies illustrating the health hazards of alcohol.

Meanwhile, the US says women should have no more than seven standard drinks a week, while men should have 14.

Scientists across the board agree that excessive alcohol consumption can permanently damage the liver, cause a range of cancers and increase blood pressure.

It strains the heart muscle and can lead to cardiovascular disease (CVD), increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Binge drinking – sometimes defined as consuming five drinks in two hours – can cause the heart to beat irregularly, which can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue and increased blood pressure.

The World Health Organization estimates that alcohol kills three million people around the world every year.