Beer belly branded a 'myth'

A study from the beer campaign group found that a quarter of people wrongly thought a pint of beer has more sugar than a frappuccino and one in ten thought a pint has more calories than a glass of wine.

A third of adults thought drinking beer would make them fat, with a surprising 29% convinced a half pint has more calories then a burger. A quarter thought that a pint contained more fat than a chocolate bar.

A pint of beer contains no fat, and less sugar than many fizzy drinks or takeaway coffees.

It also has fewer calories than wine, with 91 calories in a half pint compared to 141 calories in a 175ml glass of white wine.

Nutritionist Fiona Hunt said: “When consumed moderately beer has some health and nutritional benefits. Beer contains fewer calories than wine but many people don’t actually realise this.

“People often talk about the health benefits associated with wine, red wine in particular, but some don’t realise that studies show that consumed in moderation, as part of a healthy balanced diet, beer is also associated with reduced risk of heart disease. We are aiming to dispel the myth that beer causes a ‘beer belly’ – there is no evidence to support this at all”