Can you drink root beer while pregnant?
SafeYes, root beer is safe during pregnancy. Standard canned and bottled brands are not fermented and contain no alcohol, and most are caffeine free, with Barq's the exception at about 22 mg per 12 oz can.
Why
Despite the name, the root beer you buy in a can or bottle is a soft drink rather than a brewed beer: it is carbonated and flavored, not fermented, so there is no alcohol in it. Caffeine is the only number worth tracking, and most brands including A&W, Mug, Dad's and IBC have none at all. Regular Barq's is the outlier at roughly 22 mg per 12 oz can, which sits comfortably inside the 200 mg of caffeine per day ACOG sets as the ceiling in pregnancy, even alongside a morning coffee. The one version to ask about is small batch or homemade root beer that is traditionally brewed, because drinks that go through a real fermentation can hold measurable alcohol even when they are sold as non alcoholic.
Safer alternatives
- A&W or Mug root beer, both caffeine free
- IBC root beer in the glass bottle
- Zevia zero sugar root beer if you want less sugar
- a root beer float made with store bought vanilla ice cream
Sources
- ACOG https://www.acog.org/womens-health/experts-and-stories/ask-acog/how-much-coffee-can-i-drink-while-pregnant
- NSW Health https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/aod/resources/Factsheets/fermented-drinks-and-alcohol.PDF
Every verdict follows our sourcing methodology: official health guidelines only, most cautious position when they differ.
Last reviewed by the pregAI editorial team.
Frequently asked questions
Does root beer have caffeine?
Most brands have none, including A&W, Mug, Dad's and IBC. Regular Barq's is the main exception at about 22 mg per 12 oz can, roughly a tenth of the 200 mg daily caffeine limit. Diet Barq's is caffeine free.
Can I have a root beer float while pregnant?
Yes. Ice cream sold in US stores is made from pasteurized dairy, so a float is just soda and ice cream. Commercial soft serve is made from pasteurized mix too, so a drive through float is fine.
Is craft or homemade root beer alcoholic?
It can be. Root beer that is actually brewed and fermented, the way small batch and homemade versions often are, can retain a small amount of alcohol even when the label says non alcoholic. Sealed commercial cans and bottles are carbonated rather than fermented, so they carry none.
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