CLAIM:  

Wine, beer, and rum can help your skin by balancing its natural acidity, fighting bacteria, and keeping it youthful by restoring collagen 

FACT:  

Studies suggest limited skincare benefits from wine extracts, but alcohol's overall adverse health effects outweigh these benefits 

Can your favorite alcoholic drink double as a beauty booster?  A YouTube video suggests that beverages like beer, wine, and rum may offer surprising skincare benefits when used or consumed in moderation.   

“Beer, for instance, is said to be beneficial for the skin. Drinking or using it can provide skin-related benefits. You've likely heard that beer is good for hair, but it is also very helpful for your skin. It balances the pH levels of your skin, nourishes it by cleansing, and the vitamins in beer can help control acne,” the content creator explains in the video published on January 7, 2025.  

“Believe it or not, wine helps keep you young. Rich in antioxidants, it fights inflammation and restores collagen, which supports skin health. Wine also improves overall body health by maintaining elastic fibers that keep the skin flexible. The juniper berries used in making it are known as a superfood, enhancing blood circulation to your face and giving you a youthful glow,” she adds.  

The creator also highlights the skincare benefits of rum.  

“Although rum is considered a winter drink, it is popular for its antibacterial properties. If you frequently get pimples, rum might help as it fights bacteria. However, because it can be harsh on the skin, it should be diluted with water or rose water in a 1:2 ratio. Apply it to the affected area for five minutes, leave it for 20 minutes, and then wash your face with plain water,” she advises.  

What’s the fact? 

Some studies suggest skincare benefits of wine consumption, but its adverse health effects, including on the skin, far outweigh these.  

One such study has found that “wine extracts have strong antioxidant and anti-aging properties, particularly when skin cells were under significant stress.”  

“These findings suggest that red and white wine extracts could be promising ingredients for cosmetics aimed at skin regeneration and anti-aging," the study contended. 

However, Dr. Sameera Ranasinghe, a Doctor in Community Medicine at Sri Lanka's Ministry of Health, offered a critical interpretation of these findings. “The study does not mention wine consumption causing skin to glow,” he told First Check. “While there may be benefits of alcohol, particularly wine, its use as a treatment or therapy for specific conditions has not been confirmed by randomized controlled trials.”   

“Considering the potential harmful effects of alcohol, it is imperative to avoid or reduce consumption to prevent non-communicable diseases and other illnesses,” he added.  

Another study investigated the association between alcohol consumption and melanoma - the most dangerous type of skin cancer.  

“Our findings support carcinogenicity of alcohol on development of melanoma and are consistent with the proven carcinogenicity of alcoholic beverages in other malignancies,” the study highlighted. “The clinical and biological significance of these findings remains to be determined, but for motivated individuals with other strong risk factors for melanoma, counseling regarding alcohol use may be an appropriate risk reduction strategy to reduce risks of melanoma as well as other cancers.” 

Dr. Ranasinghe cautioned that the skincare benefits of wine consumption observed in small doses in research should not mislead people. 

“These findings are often used in social media circles to promote the myth that wine aids in skincare and other benefits,” he pointed out. “However, this is not the case. We can conclude that alcohol consumption generally causes more harm than any perceived benefits.”  

Also read: FACT CHECK: Does moderate drinking have health benefits?  - First Check